
flljj 

in 


i|pP 8# 



\liim 

BHJf 
ii 
I Hit 














* ^ A* 

r s' V 




A* 

S' 






\ A 

'+6 ' ~\ 

* O J P" » .. *■ ■ -P| 


o v 


: 


j 0 « 7 % ” 

'"‘V ** V ''X////ST 


) * 


°o ^ ^ * 

° f V ° 


P, A ,V 


„ <0 } 'P, J 

y -4 <L V p * 

4 A° % ■ 

• 0 V , • \L* « _ o o 


0 • * 


A 


A A 
** % 


C, *> v/\ 

>7 'P, - 


A V r o N « 




.Ho, 




0 M 0 


O , 1 


« m a 


,9 * V * 


w 


^ > A 

'v> ^ * 

S' 9 • 


r« A' 


A-P 

4* % 




P V * 

’° ^ A^ *' 

*. - 

: J= p., • 


o 

C S' * 

• V* '/V ® 

tr <P> ° „ _, , , 

f. c c*' .•^*, = 0 A '- ° ■ ° * ' * “ 

■y ^ dfV//yv ?5 

^ 0« ‘ 

S o 

n «.» - Vlfl^v ^. 15 X° ^ ^ <^>z//n?r* 

■ .♦* °* *• • • a 0 V ,••' 


A , 
s+ A o 
° > 


* * * f. c\ 


'•-»• A <» <..* 


o v 


*>■ 

° A* A^ 

: W 

h> — . 

p •*■•€ 


c -’ JV 

* .4? p. *» 


0 


O. 


*> ^ 
P <V 


A 4 


4 O 

2 > % 0 . 


c\ -0 • *_V > - "> \> v * S V' 


\ %/ » 

• A ^ * 

* 4» p, o 

' ,.v ^ 


■o A ^ 

0 V * ' 

^ V' 


» M 0 


A L < - ’’’P. 


O.J. 


A 


A 

A 


<\ 


j - - -^n^yy < O 

p. & '^yyMjP ' >*2r *** 

a* . ^SSj IrJje ^ hk* 

p 4? O 

<J> • * -i o,~ C 


O A c 0 N 0 * A: 

O • r- 5 ^Cv <* 

■p \N ^ 

’bv 1 • 

Or,. 




O II o 


.0- 



LOST ON 

VOLCANO ISLAND 


'E W RECK OF THE COLUMBIA 


MARK MARLINE 

ITHOR OF “THE LUCK OF A CASTAWAY,” ETC. 


FT 

MEADE 

PZ 7 

.M345 

L 

Copy 1 


NEW YORK 

THE MERSHON COMPANY 


PUBLISHERS 


74231 

Library of Congress 

Two Copies Received 

NOV 12 1900 . 

Copyright entry 

<X**a.ifca^ao* 

Hc(X,%03 < bW 

SECOND COPY 

DelivcrMl t« 

ORDER DIVISION 

NOV 1 6 1900 


y(V 

■% 


Copyright, 1900, 

BY 

THE MERSHON COMPANY 



















V 

















i 





\ 


\ 





























♦ 











CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 



PAGE 

I. 

Off for Australia, 



I 

II. 

Alone on the Ocean, 



8 

III. 

The Island, 



13 

IV. 

Something from the Wreck, 



18 

V. 

The Savages, .... 



22 

VI. 

The Savage in Hiding, 



25 

VII. 

A Savage Friend, 



33 

VIII. 

The Burning Volcano, 



40 

IX. 

Another Exploring Expedition, 



50 

X. 

The Savages Again, 



55 

XI. 

To the Rescue, .... 



60 

XII. 

A Hasty Flight, .... 



69 

XIII. 

From One Peril to Another, 


• 

75 

XIV. 

How Artie Fared, 


• 

80 

XV. 

Tahi to the Rescue Again, 


• 

88 

XVI. 

Artie Displays Courage, 



96 

XVII. 

The Burning Ship, 



102 

XVIII. 

The Girl Castaway, 



hi 

XIX. 

The Castaway’s Story, 



116 

XX. 

The Mysterious Light, 



123 

XXI. 

The Gorilla, .... 



131 

XXII. 

A Search for Eggs, 



135 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

✓ 

page 

XXIII. 

Between Life and Death, 

• i 43 

XXIY. 

The Shark, ...... 

. 148 

XXV. 

A Brave Rescue, .... 

• 155 

XXVI. 

The Savages Again, .... 

• i 59 

XXVII. 

Cora a Prisoner, .... 

. 163 

XXVIII. 

Among the Enemy 

. 169 

XXIX. 

Preparing for the Cannibals’ Feast, 

. 176 

XXX. 

Tahi to the Rescue, .... 

. 182 

XXXI. 

The Canoe, 

. 189 

XXXII. 

Carlo’s Reappearence — More Danger, 

• i99 

XXXIII. 

A Big Surprise, 

. 204 

XXXIV. 

Leaving the Island— Conclusion, 

. 211 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


CHAPTER I. 

OFF FOR AUSTRALIA. 

“ Good-by, Uncle Dick ! ” 

“ Good-by, George ! I trust you will have a 
pleasant voyage.” 

“ So do I. I must be off now.” 

The railroad train was ready to start, and with 
a final handshake George Blake made a rush and 
got aboard. A second later the long express was 
leaving San Benone for San Francisco. 

George Blake was on his way to join his father 
in Sydney, Australia. Mr. Samuel Blake had 
gone there a year before, and had written for 
George to come on. 

With the exception of his uncle, Richard Blake, 


2 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


George had no relatives left in the United States, 
so he eagerly hastened to obey the summons sent 
him. 

George was a manly lad of sixteen, tall and well 
built. We will become better acquainted with 
him as our story progresses. 

The journey by rail to San Francisco was ac- 
complished in six hours, and, valise in hand, 
George made his way to the dock where lay the 
Columbia, the merchantman that was to carry 
him so many hundreds of miles over the briny 
deep. 

In order to save expense, Richard Blake had 
made a special arrangement with Captain How- 
ard of the Columbia concerning George. While 
not a regular hand, the boy was to do some work 
aboard the vessel in lieu of paying any passage 
money. George thought this arrangement would 
just suit him* as his was an active nature and he 
knew many days must be passed on shipboard be- 
fore the end of the trip would be reached. 

“ Well, boy, who are you? ” asked the mate, as 
George came on board. 

“ George Blake.” 


OFF FOR AUSTRALIA. 


3 


“ Oh, I remember; you’ve come on board just 
in time. We heave anchor in two hours. What’s 
that creature ? ” 

“ My dog, sir. Captain Howard said, as there 
were no animals on board, I might bring him.” 

“ Hum ! I don’t see the necessity of other ani- 
mals than sheep or bullocks; but if the captain 
said so, it’s all right. Bitts, just see this lad be- 
low, and show him his hammock.” 

A sailor advanced and led the lad below. 

Our hero felt very strange and uncomfortable. 
The smell, as he went down the ladder, was close 
and oppressive, for the night was warm. 

“ This way,” said the tar; “ this is where you’ll 
take your meals, and this is where you’ll sling 
your hammock.” 

“ Thank you; I’ll have to get a hammock first.” 

“ Here is one.” And pointing the article out, 
the sailor went on deck again, leaving our hero 
alone. 

Five minutes, however, had scarcely elapsed, 
when he heard two persons coming down the com- 
panion ladder. They were laughing, and he 
recognized one as a youth he had noticed on deck. 


4 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


Soon they entered, and proved to be two lads, 
one a year older, the other nearly three years 
younger, than himself. 

The elder, Ned Foley, was a tall, lanky boy, 
with a dark face that would have been handsome 
but for its expression, which was crafty, proud, 
and sneering. 

The younger, Arthur Battison, was a fair- 
haired, effeminate-featured lad, with large blue 
eyes and a small, irresolute mouth. 

George knew he would like Arthur, but he was 
doubtful about Ned Foley. The big boy was 
evidently much of a bully. 

Yet the greeting all around was cordial enough, 
and for the time being all went well. 

At the appointed time the Columbia passed out 
of the harbor, and a few hours later land was but 
a mere speck on the horizon. 

For several weeks nothing of an unusual nature 
happened on the ship. One day George caught 
Ned Foley abusing Carlo, his dog, and hot words 
followed, but that was all. 

On the thirty-second day out the weather be- 
gan to change. The wind veered around in half 


HELPLESS IN THE CLUTCH OF THE STORM 



w. 




OFF FOR AUSTRALIA. 


5 


a dozen directions, and then blew a perfect hurri- 
cane. 

When night came it blew faster than ever. 
Every stitch of canvas was taken in, and the 
Columbia flew along madly through the dark- 
ness. 

Soon the inky blackness of the skies was broken 
by lurid flashes of lightning, rending it from east 
to west and illumining the towering billows 
which seemed toppling down to overwhelm the 
ship. 

While George clung to anything he could grasp 
his heart was faint with a nameless dread. 

“Oh, George, isn’t this awful?” whispered a 
voice by his side, and turning he saw Artie Batti- 
son. His fair face was deathly pale, and he 
trembled violently. 

George threw his arm around the younger lad. 

“ Don’t fear, Artie,” he said encouragingly, 
“ the Columbia's a capital ship and may weather 
the storm. If not, let us die like American lads.” 

The words cheered the boy, who clung to his 
companion with renewed confidence. 

But the hurricane increased. The thunder and 


6 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


the roar of the billows drowned all other sounds, 
and each wave swept the deck fore and aft. 

The man had been unlashed from the wheel, for 
the ship no longer answered her helm, and Heaven 
alone knew how many unhappy beings had already 
been washed to a watery grave. 

The captain gave no orders, for none could be 
obeyed. 

The ship had long drifted out of her course, 
and now was helpless in the clutch of the tor- 
nado. 

Suddenly the whole firmament appeared aflame, 
and the electric fluid darted about the ship in 
twenty places. 

For a moment everything was light as day, and 
then came a terrific crash. 

The ship keeled over, the mainmast went by the 
board, and then came one fearful, blended cry of 
terror from the throats of the men. 

The Columbia made one wild bound forward 
and recoiled with a quivering shock. 

Then the brave ship rose no more, but rolled 
and wallowed heavily in the stormy sea. She 
was sinking. 


OFF FOR AUSTRALIA. 


7 


The reefs that had flung her back had torn and 
gored her sides, and she was filling fast. 

“ To the boats ! ” George heard the captain 
shout. “ Quick, lads, we are on the breakers ! 
We are going down ! To the boats ! Quick ! ” 

George and Artie made a wild dash forward, 
reached a boat and clung to it. 

Bang! Swash! In a second the boat, to 
which the boys instinctively clung, was washed 
away from the ship, and George thought their 
last hour had come. 

At that moment a vivid flash lightened the 
whole sea. 

There was the Columbia to leeward, a long 
white foaming band between the rowboat and the 
vessel. 

The boy saw her plainly for one moment, then 
she had gone. 

Eagerly the boy watched for the next flash, and 
when it came the gallant ship was still nowhere to 
be seen. 

Had she gone down forever ? 


CHAPTER II. 


ALONE ON THE OCEAN. 

“Gone! Gone!” 

With this despairing cry George dropped down 
by the side of his younger companion, his heart 
sick with misery. 

Then his position recalled him to action. 

The waves he now noticed for the first time to 
be less violent, and suddenly he beheld a dark ob- 
ject battling with the billows. 

George leaned forward, and after a moment he 
gave vent to a great shout of joy. 

“ It is Carlo. Rise up, Artie. Look ! ” 

It was, indeed, the noble dog. He had sprung 
into the boiling sea after his young master; but 
he was not alone, for George saw in his mouth the 
collar of a boy's jacket. 

With difficulty the boys pulled into the boat the 
apparently lifeless being. To their surprise, it 
was no other than Ned Foley! 


ALONE ON THE OCEAN. 


9 


“ Is he dead ? ” whispered Artie. 

“ No, his heart beats,” answered George, “ and 
I am sure the storm is abating. I can't tell where 
we are going, but let us be grateful for our lives, 
and wait patiently for the dawn.” 

So the three lads — Ned yet unconscious and the 
dog cowering at the bottom of the boat — went 
drifting through the raging sea under the inky 
sky. 

It was a perilous position for so youthful a 
crew. Alone in that vast solitude of tumbling 
waters, with the black sky, riven occasionally by 
lightning, above, and only the frail boat between 
them and the almost fathomless depths of ocean. 

Arthur trembled in every limb as he cowered, 
apparently for protection, close to his companion. 
George, too, had a sinking of the heart as he 
looked around. 

Even should the storm abate, to-morrow there 
would be the blazing sun and the horrors of hun- 
ger and thirst to encounter until they could cross 
the track of some ship, if they ever did, before 
death had seized them. 

It was a reflection calculated to make the 


to 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 


stoutest sailor quail, and how much more terrible 
was it for a boy on his first ocean voyage ! 

“Look at Ned, he’s moving!” cried Battison 
suddenly. “ He has revived! ” 

Ned Foley had indeed turned on his side, and 
soon after he sat up, rubbing his eyes. 

“ It isn’t time to turn out yet,” he grumbled. 
“ How terrible queer I feel. What’s the matter? 
Where am I?” 

The next moment he recollected everything, 
and scarcely listening to how he had been miracu- 
lously saved by Carlo, he shrieked aloud with 
terror. 

At that moment the boat came with so violent a 
bump against some substance that it threw all the 
lads down, and made Ned roar louder than ever. 

But George, "as soon as he could, leaped to his 
feet and leaned over the bows to see what the 
bump meant. 

“Land, land!” he ejaculated exultingly. 
“ Come, Arthur. Stop that noise, Foley, and do 
your best to help.” 

The lads, roused by the thought of safety, 
obeyed. 


ALONE ON THE OCEAN. 


II 


“ How help ? ” demanded Ned. “ Where’s the 
land? ” 

“ The water has washed the boat off again, but 
soon it will send it again on the beach; then we 
must jump over and prevent its being carried 
back.” 

“ Who’s going to jump out? I’m not such an 
idiot,” retorted Ned. “ Suppose it’s a reef ? ” 

“ I’m sure it’s a beach,” said George resolutely. 
“ But stay where you are if you are afraid to 
come. I and Carlo will take the risk.” 

There was a rope yet attached to the bow. 
Taking the end, George put it in his dog’s mouth 
and waited. 

The next billow ran the boat again on the 
strand. 

“ Forward, Carlo, forward ! ” cried George, 
pointing ahead. 

Almost simultaneously he leaped over into the 
dark waters, and the dog followed like a flash. 

George uttered a cry of delight, for his feet 
had touched firm land. 

“ Hurrah ! ” he shouted, as, catching the gun- 
wale, he and his brave four-legged companion 


12 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


fought their way landward, pulling the boat after 
them. 

It was a difficult task, but Artie Battison, after 
a moment’s hesitation, jumped over to lend his 
aid, and Ned Foley, assured there was no danger, 
followed his example. 

The ground proved smooth and slightly shelv- 
ing, and as soon as they had got beyond the force 
of the waves, the work became easier, and with 
another “ Hurrah ! ” the boys, with the dog, giv- 
ing “ g. strong pull, and a long pull, and a pull all 
together,” dragged the boat well up on the dry 
sand. 


CHAPTER III. 


THE ISLAND. 

Never were three boys more happy than those, 
so suddenly saved from shipwreck. 

Artie Battison laughed and cried by turns. 
Carlo barked and frisked like a thoughtless puppy, 
George gave three cheers, and even Ned was 
moved. 

After regaining their breath the lads took off 
their upper clothes to lay them on the shore to dry, 
and then sank down for a much-needed rest. 
When they awoke it was sunrise, and they looked 
around to see on what kind of land they had been 
cast. 

Where they were was a small cove formed by 
high rocks, covered with brush and gorgeous with 
bright-hued flowers, swaying in the wind as if 
mocking the ocean that rolled and dashed at their 
base. 

The sand was hard and firm, while seaward, 


14 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

more than a mile off, extended a long white line 
of tumbling foam broken here and there by sharp, 
small masses of rock. 

“ We are on a coral island, I think,” said 
George, “ for that’s a coral reef yonder, and it 
was that which wrecked the poor Columbia and 
our shipmates.” 

“ After all,” grumbled Ned Foley, “ I don’t 
see how we shall be better off than they. They’ve 
forgotten everything by this time, while we seem 
to be prisoners in this bay; those rocks don’t look 
easy to climb.” 

“ Let’s be thankful if we only find them diffi- 
cult,” retorted George, with energy. 

“ The worst is, what are we to eat? ” broke in 
Artie. “ I’m very hungry.” 

“ Then perhaps you’ll have to die of hunger,” 
grumbled Ned. 

“ Yes, if he sits down with his hands before 
him and waits,” laughed George. “ For my part, 
I see some cocoanuts above, and shall make my 
breakfast of them,” and he gave a hand to haul 
the boat high beyond the reach of the sea and 
secure it. 


THE ISLAND. 


*5 

This done, the lads began to examine the cliffs 
to discover the most advantageous part to climb. 

The vegetation, while it offered a hold for the 
climbing vines, was yet just such as might hide 
snakes and other unpleasant customers. 

“ We must risk it, though,” said George; “ we 
can't starve here, can we?” 

Artie declared strenuously in the negative as 
his eyes looked up greedily at the cocoanuts. 

At this moment Ned, who had preferred to 
search alone, gave a loud shout, and George and 
his companion were soon at his side. 

He was holding aside a large tree fern, disclos- 
ing a small opening which evidently extended be- 
tween the rocks. 

“ This is the way,” exclaimed Ned supercil- 
iously; “ follow me.” 

“ I don't care which is the way,” laughed Artie, 
“ as long as I get something to eat.” 

“ Then come on.” 

All three began to press aside the bushes to 
form a pathway, but soon they had no need for 
such exertion. 

The opening between the high rocks abruptly 


/ 


1 6 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

widened out into a splendid valley in which grew 
ferns, plantains, and breadfruit trees. 

“ Oh, this is delightful ! ” cried George. “ If 
we can only manage to build a house or hut we 
will get along very well. 

“ If cannibals don’t come upon us,” said Ned. 

“ If we can only get something to eat,” put in 
Artie. 

“ The cocoanuts and these,” said George, point- 
ing to the breadfruit, “ will serve us for a time. 
Besides, we must fish. Ned is right, though, 
about the savages. I hope this island is like 
Crusoe’s, uninhabited, if it isn’t with white people. 
We must keep a sharp lookout.” 

The heat began to be excessive, but the lads, 
covering their heads with broad green leaves, has- 
tened along the valley, which rose by a rather steep 
incline. 

Half an hour and George and Ned reached the 
summit of a high cliff. 

“ It’s grand ! ” cried George. 

The sun danced on the distant waters of the 
ocean, on the horizon of which were numerous 
little dark spots they knew to be islands. 


THE ISLAND. 


17 


Nearer, on their own island, great mountains 
rose up in lofty peaks and crags, down which 
flashed a torrent of fresh water, while around was 
a vast extent of rich tropical verdure. 

“ Look here,” said George eagerly. “We 
must rig a mast on one of those peaks, Ned, so 
that we may run up a flag of distress for any pass- 
ing ship to see.” 

“ First, I think we’d better rig up something to 
sleep on,” retorted Ned, who never was ready to 
agree in anything he did not himself propose. 

“ Of course that’s first to be thought of. But 
this is the best place for our lookout. Good gra- 
cious! what’s that?” 

Cries of alarm and terror filled the air. 

The boys stood astounded, but speedily they 
recognized the voice of Artie, who had lingered 
behind. 

What had happened? Had Artie fallen into 
the deadly claws of some beast of prey, or was he 
pursued by human enemies ? 

“Come, Ned, come!” cried George, as he 
dashed back down the valley. 


CHAPTER IV. 


SOMETHING FROM THE WRECK. 

“ Help me, boys ! Help ! ” 

Artie continued to cry out as George ran to- 
ward him. 

Foley followed our hero, and presently both 
abruptly halted, staring a moment in amazement. 

Then the beautiful tropical leaves vibrated with 
a peal of hearty laughter. 

Artie’s position was so ridiculous that George 
and Ned, forgetting all about savages and beasts 
of prey, shouted with merriment. 

Poor Artie was suspended in midair by the 
waistband, his legs and arms dangling down. He 
was awfully pale, and shouting with all his might, 
while a wild hog was now poking its snout among 
the herbage, now glancing up at the lad. 

At the appearance of the others, the hog, which 
was small, gave a grunt and trotted away in the 
bushes. 


SOMETHING FROM THE WRECK. 


*9 


“ Say, you fellows,” pleaded poor Artie, “ do 
help me down ! ” 

“ Why, how did you get there ? ” asked George. 

“ I saw that cocoanut tree,” answered the boy, 
pointing, “ and was so hungry I wanted to climb 
up it, when the grunting beast ran out, so star- 
tling me that I dropped down, and these awful 
thorns caught my clothes. Oh, do — do help 
me!” 

“ You're high and dry,” grinned George. 

“ Better stay there,” put in Ned. 

“ No ! no ! help me down ! ” cried Artie, who 
could see no joke in the affair. 

When George had got over his laughter he 
drew out his knife and began carefully, with 
Ned's assistance, to cut away the thorns. 

“ Whenever you come across that plant,” 
laughed George, when the other was released, 
“ beware of it.” 

“ Trust me,” said Artie, picking the thorns 
from his clothes. “ But haven’t you found any 
cocoanuts? ” 

“ No; but we are going to.” 

In a short time they had reached the trees, and, 


20 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


climbing the straight trunk, knocked off enough 
for the whole day. 

Then sitting down they made a hearty meal, 
and, securing the rest of their prizes, determined 
to return to the bay, for at present they knew that 
they must make their boat their shelter and larder. 

When they reached the shore again they found 
it changed somewhat. 

The tide was coming in rapidly, and the firm 
yellow sand was littered . over with portions of 
wreckage, while others yet dotted the sea. Some 
distance out could be seen the Columbia , water- 
logged and half sunk. 

The sight at first caused the lads much sadness, 
for it recalled the unhappy fate of their less for- 
tunate companions. 

They knew, however, that no sorrow could help 
the dead, and ran down eagerly to the water’s 
edge. 

Very soon all three were hard at work, for 
they knew how valuable the wreck would be to 
them. 

Collecting the spars and fragments of wood, 
they stored them beyond the reach of the sea. 


SB 



THEY GATHERED IN WHAT THEY COULD OF THE WRECKAGE. P. 20. 





I 

♦ 
























* 






























t J* 










I 


























SOMETHING FROM THE WRECK. 

They found also a sailor’s sea chest, two casks, 
and several cases. 

“ Let us try to go on board,” suggested George. 

“ We can’t make it,” answered Ned. “ See 
how tipped up she is.” 

But George was bound to try getting on board, 
and he and Artie brought around the rowboat for 
that purpose. 

“ We must be careful,” said George, as they 
rowed out. 

Soon they gained the Columbia's side, but, alas ! 
boarding the half-stranded vessel was totally out 
of the question, and at last they had to give up the 
task. 


CHAPTER V. 


THE SAVAGES. 

For three hours the boys were employed in 
bringing ashore all they could, when the tide 
turned and they had to quit work. The tide 
carried the shipwreck with it, out of their sight, 
and they were afraid that that was the last they 
would see of the Columbia. 

By this time the boys felt fatigued from want 
of rest, as they had not slept for many hours. 

So the three boys got into the boat and curled 
themselves at the bottom, Carlo nestling close to 
his master’s arms, and soon all save the trusty 
dog were slumbering, forgetful of their dangers. 

The moon was just beginning to rise, when 
Carlo, lifting his head, pricked up his ears. 

There was a sound — the prolonged whish, 
whish of oars, and then followed a grating on the 
sand. 

Some twenty dark forms proceeded noiselessly 


32 


THE SAVAGES. 


23 


in Indian file across the shore, disappearing up the 
path Ned had found. 

After this all was still. 

But the dog did not again sleep. 

Half an hour had elapsed, when the air was 
filled with a hollow, rolling sound, like thunder, 
while the earth began to tremble, as if in fear. 

The lads were instantly awakened and sat up, 
confused, alarmed. 

“ Whatever’s that? ” gasped Ned. “ Why, the 
shore is shaking like a bowl of jelly! ” 

“ I think it must be an earthquake/' replied 
George. “ Look at the sky." 

A veil of impenetrable blackness had swept over 
it, and a strange, indescribable hush had fallen 
upon everything. 

Only that peculiar hollow roll sounded through 
the air; only the terrible shaking of the earth pro- 
claimed something to come. 

The boys and the dog cowered together in 
terror. 

Suddenly, as the terrified boys waited for what 
was to happen next, yells and an unearthly jab- 
bering arose, as if pandemonium had broken loose. 


24 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


The sounds were evidently approaching them. 

Before our heroes could comment upon them, 
they were struck dumb by the sight of some 
twenty dark, naked figures, tattooed, and adorned 
with war paint and feathers, who, howling and 
yelling, came tumbling, running, and scrambling 
through the bushes onto the shore. 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE SAVAGE IN HIDING. 

“ Savages ! ” muttered George Blake under his 
breath. 

Alarmed by this new danger, he instinctively 
caught Carlo’s muzzle, lest by barking the dog 
should disclose their presence. 

Yelling and hustling each other, the savages 
ran down to their canoes, leaped in, and, to the 
boy’s relief, paddled away as for dear life. 

Meanwhile, as if the island’s wrath had been 
kindled by their presence, the rolling and shaking 
began now gradually to subside, and in a little 
time wholly ceased. 

The darkness swept away; the moon shone out 
brightly, and by its light could be seen two canoes, 
filled with savages, disappearing in the distance. 

The feelings of the lads may easily be imagined. 
The question in their minds was, had the natives 
only visited the island, or would they soon be re- 


•3 


26 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


turning, when, the night being over, it could no 
longer offer concealment for the castaways ? 

Possessed by an exceeding fear, they waited in 
the boat until dawn, keeping watch on the bushes 
and the ocean. 

Nothing, however, occurred, and finally day 
arrived, bringing consolation and courage. 

Having refreshed themselves with a bath, and 
breakfasted heartily on the cocoanuts, George 
said : 

“ I’ve been thinking about those Indians, or 
whatever you would call them.” 

“ They’ve never been out of my mind,” re- 
marked Artie. 

“ Didn’t they look awful ? Do you fancy 
they’ll come back?” 

“ That’s just it. If they’ve been here once, 
why shouldn’t they return ? Besides, we can’t tell 
but they live in the island and were frightened 
away by the earthquake.” 

“That’s not likely,” interrupted Ned; “for 
didn’t we see their canoes waiting for them ? ” 

“ Of course; I’d forgotten that, Ned. Then it’s 
pretty certain they only came on a visit, in which 


The savage in hiding. 27 

case, if they come again, no doubt they’ll land in 
this bay near the path to the valley.” 

“ Well, what then?” 

“ Then I think we ought to hunt up another 
bay, where we may not be found — at least, by 
Indians.” 

“ But how will you do it ? ” 

“ By boat, for the sea’s very calm. If we float 
her we might, with a single oar, stern-paddle her 
round the shore.” 

The meal over, they ran the boat into the sea, 
and, with Carlo sitting on the bow, paddled by 
turns round the headland, one of them with a 
piece of wreck keeping them from running 
aground. 

Hardly had they accomplished this than they 
came upon one of the loveliest creeks imaginable. 

All three gave an involuntary shout of delight, 
and Carlo barked and bounded in unison so vehe- 
mently that he tumbled head over heels into the 
water. 

But, like a wise animal, he instantly turned his 
accident to account. 

Seizing the rope yet hanging to the bow in his 


a 8 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

strong white teeth, he began towing the boat to 
shore. 

The young adventurers found the creek, on 
examination, the very place to suit them, and 
they agreed at once to remove the wreckage 
thither. 

It would be a work of time; but they dreaded 
leaving any trace by sunset, for fear the savages 
should return in the evening. 

They instantly set about the task, but it took 
eight trips back and forth before all could be re- 
moved to the creek. 

The hardest part was to get the sailor’s chest 
in and out of the boat. 

But they knew it might contain things which 
would prove valuable to them, while they did not 
like to lose time by unpacking it. 

When they were about to make their last jour- 
ney they were attracted by the dog. He was 
moaning, and sniffing, and scratching violently 
at one of the small casks. 

“ Whatever is the matter ? ” cried Artie. 
“ What can he want ? ” 

“He’s hungry!” exclaimed George. “Poor 


THE SAVAGE IN HIDING. 


29 


dog ! of course, he cannot eat cocoanut. But what 
does he mean ? ” 

“What does he mean?” Artie added — “I 
know the cask must contain provisions.” 

Seizing several pieces of rock, the boys 
managed at last to beat out one of the staves of 
the cask. 

The dog sat by, approvingly wagging his tail; 
then he gave a great bound and bark as a lot of 
ship biscuits fell onto the sand. 

Throwing him several, the lads carried the wel- 
come provision down to the boat, and started on 
their last journey. 

As they paddled to the creek a great calm had 
fallen on the ocean. The sun fell slantingly, and 
every object was reflected clearly and distinctly in 
the water. 

“ Look, look ! ” exclaimed George, who had 
been using the piece of wreck wood to propel the 
boat, bending forward. “ Why, it’s like a scene 
in fairyland ! ” 

After watching the scene for some time, they 
pulled the boat ashore and dragged it up to the 
spot under the large drooping leaves of the ferns, 


3 ° 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


which they had arranged was to be their boat- 
house. 

“ Now/’ said George, “ I propose that while 
one of us with Artie stows away the wreck, the 
other with the dog goes up to the lookout to see if 
any ship is in sight. We have forgotten all about 
that.” 

“ Very well,” answered Ned; “ but I shall stop 
here. The dog wouldn’t follow me.” 

Foley was glad he had the latter excuse, as he 
did not at all relish the idea of going alone into the 
interior of the island, where savages might still be 
lurking. 

Our hero, however, was not the lad to propose 
any plan for another to perform which he did not 
like to do himself. 

“ All right,” he answered cheerfully. “ Come 
along, Carlo,” and, whistling to the dog, George 
set out. 

To reach the heights here, as at the bay, he had 
to traverse a valley much resembling the other, 
only smaller. 

Once a hog came grunting across his path. 

“ Ah, my fine fellow,” thought our hero; “ if we 


I 

THE SAVAGE IN HIDING. 31 

could only set a trap for you, we’d have pork with 
our biscuit, wouldn’t we, Carlo ? ” 

Nothing else of any consequence occurred, and 
in less than half an hour George stood on a small 
tract of tableland. 

The jagged peaks reared up before him, the 
center one having the appearance of the top hav- 
ing been snapped off. 

The boy, however, gave them no attention. 
Shading his eyes with his hand, he eagerly 
scanned the horizon. 

The sun, on the decline, fell on it with golden 
radiance; but, save the dark spots, which he 
knew now to be islands, nothing broke the glassy 
expanse. 

He sighed as he recollected that the Columbia 
had, no doubt, been driven far out of her course 
during the hurricane, and consequently the island 
would probably be out of the track of ships. 

With the hungry anxiety of hopeless hope, 
George yet stood, loath to leave the lookout, when 
his attention was attracted to the dog. 

Carlo had been rummaging among the trees 
growing to the rear of the tableland, and now, his 


32 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

hindquarters raised, his forepaws planted firmly 
on the ground, was barking furiously at an acacia 
bush. 

Our hero at once ran forward to learn what 
was amiss. 

As, however, he drew nearer he halted, then 
sprang back with a cry of alarm, for from among 
the green leaves was protruded the dark, tattooed 
face of a savage. 


CHAPTER VII. 


A SAVAGE FRIEND. 

“ Creation ! ” 

The sight of the savage’s face, tattooed from 
forehead to chin, held our hero paralyzed. 

Carlo no longer barked, but, well on guard, 
glanced from one to the other. 

How long matters might have remained thus 
it is impossible to say, had not the native, uttering 
some unintelligible gibberish, suddenly rolled out 
from among the leaves and fell prostrate at 
George’s feet. 

So abrupt was the movement that even the dog 
leaped back. 

The next moment, however, he sprang forward, 
and would certainly have fastened his teeth in the 
native had not our hero’s voice arrested him and 
drove him away, for to his surprise George per- 
ceived that the savage was partly bound hand and 
foot. 


33 


34 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 


His astonishment was still more increased when 
the man, wriggling his body, sat up and said im- 
ploringly : 

“ You Inglis. Tahi starved — hungry. Set 
Tahi free. Tahi grateful to Inglis boy. Good 
Inglis. Inglis very good.” 

The poor fellow looked so piteous that our 
hero’s heart yearned to perform his request, but 
prudence caused him to hesitate. 

“ Who tied you like this? ” he asked. 

“ Tahi’s enemies, the Indians. Bad Indians, 
the Ninans.” 

“ Were they those who came here yesterday? ” 
inquired our hero. 

“Yes,” said the Indian. “Tahi brought pris- 
oner with them.” 

“What for?” 

“Kill Tahi; roast him, eat him. Tahi their 
enemy.” 

George shuddered. The savages, then, were 
cannibals. 

“ Why did they not? ” he proceeded, beginning 
to lose fear of the other, as he noted his eager, 
piteous expression. 



GEORGE AND THE SAVAGE 





A SAVAGE FRIEND. 


35 


“ Big earth-thunder, make ’em all run,” replied 
the fellow. “They run to canoe, leaving Tahi 
to the big thunder, and to die of hunger.” 

“ Look here,” said George, placing his hand on 
the native’s shoulder, “ you shall not die of 
hunger, nor of the big thunder, if you are our 
friend. But how do we know you will not 
be our enemy ? ” 

The poor fellow, throwing himself on the 
ground, tried to embrace our hero’s feet. 

“ Tahi friend, no enemy of the Inglis,” he ex- 
claimed; “Tahi been on big Inglis ship, and 
Inglis kind to Tahi. Tahi grateful to kind 
Inglis.” 

There was no mistrusting the half-starved fel- 
low, for truth was in both his voice and features. 

His eagerness to make George believe him was 
so earnest that he rolled like a dog at his feet. 

“ Does Tahi know this island? ” he asked. 

The Indian shook his head. 

“ Where is Tahi’s home? ” 

Sitting up with a longing gaze, the poor fellow 
nodded toward the horizon. 

“ Can Tahi see it? ” continued our hero. 


36 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

The Indian sadly shook his head. “ Tahi’s 
home long way off; very big.” 

Why, the boy could not have told, but he asked : 

“ Could Tahi find it in a canoe? ” 

Again the Indian sadly shook his head. 

“ Too big way off for Tahi,” he remarked. 
“ Tahi meet Ninans. Ninans this time kill Tahi.” 

From this George knew the island of the enemy 
must lie between the one he was on and the home 
of the savage before him. 

He paused, reflecting, while Tahi watched him 
anxiously with his dark eyes. 

Our hero put one further question. 

“Does Tahi know if there are Indians on the 
island ? ” 

An absolute look of terror swept over the tat- 
tooed countenance. 

“ Tahi think not,” he rejoined, glancing round; 
island too small.” 

George paused no more, but resolved, at all 
risks, to release the poor fellow. 

With his knife he severed what was left of the 
savage’s bonds, which had been tied so tight as to 
cut into the skin. 


A SAVAGE FRIEND. 


37 


In his broken English sentences, blended with 
that of his native tongue, George learned that 
nothing had passed the poor fellow’s lips in the 
shape of food or drink for forty-eight hours 
or more. 

“ Poor fellow,” said our hero compassionately; 
“ come with me, and though shipwrecked our- 
selves, we can find you something both to eat and 
drink.” 

But here Tahi proved his superiority to the 
young speaker. 

Running to some large trees he began gather- 
ing the fruit, some of which were yellow and of 

1 p rrro ci 7 p 
rcrt c. V/ oiz#v • 

Eagerly he devoured them, and then loaded 
himself with several that were yet green. 

“What are they, Tahi?” asked George, after 
a moment. 

Tahi gave the native name, grinning from ear 
to ear, which did not make our hero much the 
wiser, until the Indian added : 

“ Good, good eat. Bake.” 

“ Well, come on, Tahi,” said George. “ I’m 
not alone here; I have two companions.” 


38 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

“ Inglis? ” queried the Indian doubtfully. 

“Yes; American English, as I am.” 

“ Good,” responded the other, at once striding 
forward; “ Tahi like Inglis; Inglis good to Tahi.” 

On their way our hero told his companion how 
the Columbia had been wrecked, and only they 
three boys saved. 

“Ah,” said Tahi, "big storm; Great Spirit 
angry; lightning, big noise! Ship on reef.” 

“ That’s it,” remarked George. “ Now stay 
here, Tahi, while I go on and tell my companions 
you are coming.” 

During our hero’s absence Ned had, for once, 
been hard at work. 

The casks had been put in the place which the 
three had decided should be their larder, and the 
broken wreckage stored in their carpenter shop. 

He and Artie had broken open the poor sailor’s 
chest, and examined its contents. 

Here, to their delight, they found a bag of 
strong nails, though, unfortunately, a hammer 
was lacking. 

With these, and Artie’s help, Ned had nailed 
several planks onto the branches of two trees, 


A SAVAGE FRIEND. 


39 


cutting away all the under leaves, so that really it 
already began to show some appearance of a hut. 

The pair were much surprised to learn what 
George had to tell. 

“ What ! ” cried Ned, “ you’ve brought him 
here? What an idiot you are! How do you 
know that this isn’t a trick of the Indians he calls 
his enemies to get our scalps? ” 

“ Because,” retorted our hero boldly, “ twenty 
Indians would scarcely take all that trouble to 
overcome such lads as we. As to being an idiot, 
the future shall prove to whether you or I most 
deserve the title. This Indian knows these 
islands, which we do not, and may prove of good 
service to us.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE BURNING VOLCANO. 

At the first sight of Tahi both Ned and Artie 
felt inclined to take to their heels, but restrained 
the impulse, seeing our hero did not show the 
least fear. 

Certainly, Tahi scarcely presented an appear- 
ance to attract. 

He wore no covering save a waistcloth, and, 
though tall, with well-made limbs, the disfiguring 
tattoo which was on many parts of his body gave 
him a hideous aspect. 

There was nothing warlike, however, about 
him. He carried no weapon, while the expression 
of his face was peaceable enough. 

“ Inglis boys frightened,” he said to George. 
“ No need fear Tahi. Tahi show them how to 
fish, hunt.” 

Ned and Artie, hearing this, gained confidence 
and drew near. 


40 


THE BURNING VOLCANO. 


41 


“ House? " queried Tahi, pointing to the planks 
on the branches. 

“ Yes." 

Tahi shook his head. 

“ Too near shore," he remarked. “ Light fire, 
cook food," and he pointed seaward, “ Indians see 
and come." 

The truth of the observation struck all three. 

“ We never thought of that, Tahi," said 
George. “ There, already you have paid me for 
setting you free." 

“ Tahi do more still," was the answer. “ Tahi 
help, and show how Indians build house. No 
Indians now," and carefully he scanned the hori- 
zon. “ Tahi make fire and cook; bread not good 
raw." 

“He never calls those things bread!" whis- 
pered Ned. 

“ They must be," exclaimed George, recollect- 
ing the fruit of the 'bread tree. “ Why, Ned, we 
in our ignorance should have nearly starved, fear- 
ing to touch them ! " 

Meanwhile, the savage, most attentively 
watched by Carlo, had gathered a heap of sticks, 


42 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


which he ignited by striking sparks from two 
stones onto a piece of tinder. 

Directly the wood blazed he placed the fruit 
near, as we might potatoes, to bake. 

Suddenly the dog, as if he were pleased by the 
fire, walked up to the Indian and stretched him- 
self by his side. 

Tahi started at first, but finally laid his dark 
hand nervously on the animal. 

The latter, turning his head, licked his hand 
caressingly. 

“ Now,” exclaimed our hero to his companions, 
“ I know Tahi is honest, for Carlo trusts him. He 
never does that except to people he likes.” 

Ned laughed sneeringly; for the dog never 
willingly came to him; and he hated the dog, 
though to the animal he owed his life. 

While the fruit baked Tahi expressed a desire 
to rig up a shelter for the night. 

With the boys’ knives he cut down several 
flexible branches. These he planted in the sand 
perpendicularly, in three rows to form three sides, 
fastening them to others horizontally to make a 
roof. 


THE BURNING VOLCANO. 


43 


Then he lashed over all with strong fiber grass 
large fern and palm leaves, until it represented a 
very comfortable hut, thatched on the sides as 
well as above. 

The boys shouted with delight, and Tahi won 
ground, even with Ned Foley. 

Tahi laughed approval at their pleasure; then, 
leading the way back to the fire, examined the 
fruit. 

They were well roasted by this time, the out- 
side being black. 

This the Indian scraped off, showing the in- 
side to be soft and white, like the inside of a new- 
baked loaf. 

Cutting them in pieces, Tahi placed them on 
some green leaves, near which he set several co- 
coanut shells filled with cocoanut milk. 

Never did supper look more appetizing. Artie 
clapped his hands with joy, and the young cast- 
aways forgot for the moment the hundreds and 
hundreds of miles which separated them from 
America. 

Sitting down round the fire, they made a hearty 
meal, during which Tahi told them a great deal 


44 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


about his home, where he had a wife and two 
children. 

He said the English ships often touched there, 
when he used to go on board with breadfruit, by 
which means he had learned English. 

“ Why can’t we get there ? ” asked Ned. 
“ We’ve got a boat.” 

But Tahi shook his head. 

“ Too far,” he repeated; “ big, big way. Many 
enemies’ canoes, many enemies’ islands, between. 
Enemy fight, and eat prisoners.” 

And the thought of getting to Tahi’s island 
was, at least for the present, abandoned. 

They had sat so long over their meal that 
night had fallen. The moon had not yet risen, 
and the sky was veiled by an impenetrable black- 
ness. An oppressive heat filled the air, while the 
sea had a hollow moan in its sound. 

Suddenly the earth, as on the previous evening, 
began to shake and tremble. 

Then came a mighty roar like thunder, as if the 
end of the world had come, and the sky grew 
vivid with a red light. 

The boys and Tahi sat paralyzed with terror. 


THE BURNING VOLCANO. 


45 


The voice of the ocean grew louder and the 
waves higher, and yet no wind blew. On the con- 
trary, the air was heavy and still. The trees only 
shook because of the earth’s upheaving. 

Was the island about to be engulfed in the 
ocean ? 

“What is this, Tahi?” asked George, in a 
whisper; “ do you know? ” 

“ The Big Spirit angry,” said Tahi. “ He 
shakes the earth in his big hand, and breathes fire 
and smoke from his great mouth.” 

He pointed as he spoke inland. 

Our hero sprang to his feet. “ Tahi,” he said, 
pointing inland too; “ that is a fire mountain, a 
volcano. It is on fire.” 

The Indian nodded. 

“Let us take to the boat!” exclaimed Ned, 
leaping up. 

“ No; no sea,” said Tahi. 

“ Ned,” said our hero, “ it would be madness. 
Look how high the waves are rising; we should 
be swamped. We are safer here.” 

“ Safe? A pretty safety ! ” 

“ Well, let us trust we are safer, and that Provi- 


46 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


dence will bring us through this danger, as He has 
those past. Do not let us despair; there may after 
all be no peril for us. I, for my part, shall try and 
see what is taking place.” 

“ Oh, George, don’t go ! ” said Artie. 

“ He’ll be an idiot if he does,” broke in Ned, 
his face white with dread. 

“ I certainly shall,” remarked our hero quietly. 

“ You see, we may be suffering terror and fear 
where there may be no need. Tahi, will you 
come? ” 

The savage rose with reluctance. 

“ Don’t you be foolish enough. Stop here, 
Tahi,” exclaimed Ned; “ stay where you are, Bat- 
tison.” 

Artie made no attempt to move, but the Indian 
in silence stood by George. 

“ Come, Tahi,” said our hero resolutely; 
“ you, I see, trust in your Great Spirit, as I do in 
mine.” 

And the boy, with the savage, plunged into the 
valley. 

The path was lighted by the glare thrown on 
the sky by the volcano. The earth trembled and 


THE BURNING VOLCANO. 


47 


heaved under their feet, while the birds screamed 
and flew wildly among the bushes, and the wild 
hogs, in alarm, ran blindly across their path. 

As they advanced the glare increased, as did the 
earth’s trembling, while fragments like ashes fell 
about their path. 

More than once our hero felt his heart sink. 
But the natural pride of a wide-awake American 
boy forbade this, and feeling sure there was no 
immediate danger he went on. 

Something once or twice had touched his leg 
as he had proceeded. 

At first he had thought it the bushes, but look- 
ing down felt his heart bound with affection as 
he saw it was Carlo. 

The animal’s drooping head and tail told how 
awed and frightened he was by this convulsion of 
nature; yet had it been to death itself that they 
were advancing, the dog never would have quitted 
his master. 

In about twenty minutes the three reached the 
tableland. 

As George beheld the grand scene before him, 
he flung up his arms with a great cry, partly of 


4 8 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


admiration, partly of terror, though the first pre- 
dominated. 

The vast mountain was one mighty cone of fire. 
The flame shot up from the crater to the height of 
thirty to forty feet, carrying with it masses of 
rock and molten matter, accompanied by a thun- 
derous roar. 

Above hung a dense cloud of red smoke, while 
leaping, flowing down every side, came streams 
of blazing lava that made the whole mountain 
appear a mighty conflagration. 

Tahi cowered low on the ground, trembling 
with terror, and the dog, crouching by his master, 
moaned plaintively. 

The heat was intense, and the air so dry that 
their eyelids seemed to be scorched. 

For some time the three so remained, when our 
hero, who ever had his wits about him, observed 
that not only was the volcano further off from 
them than he had imagined, but that the lava, 
which continued to roll down in a blazing flood, 
never came nearer them. 

“ Tahi,” he exclaimed, starting up, “ I don’t 
think we have any cause to fear after all, for I 


THE BURNING VOLCANO. 


49 


believe the volcano is too far off. Perhaps, even, 
it is on another island. If not, there must be 
some valley or precipice between it and us, or the 
lava would overflow this land. Supposing it goes 
into the sea ? ” he added. “ Is there no way we 
can find out ? ” 

Before the Indian could reply a black cloud 
rose from the burning mountain, and in a few 
seconds a shower of hot ashes fell about the 
native and the boy. 

Tahi uttered a howl as they dropped on his 
naked skin, and Carlo joined chorus, while all 
three, as by one accord, fled down the valley. 

So intense a darkness reigned that they could 
hardly keep to the path. 

In a little while, however, they recovered from 
their fright, finding the ashes had ceased to fall 
around them; but hardly had they stopped to 
draw breath than they were startled by shouts 
and cries proceeding from the direction of the 
shore. 


CHAPTER IX. 


ANOTHER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 

“Come on; Artie and Ned are in trouble !” 
cried George. 

“ Dat so ! — me come ! ” was the native’s quick 
reply. 

Our hero and his companion hastened their 
steps, and soon came in sight of Ned and Artie — 
rushing up the valley at full speed. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” called George. 

“The sea! the sea!” they cried; “it’s cover- 
ing the beach ! It’s washing away all our 
stores ! ” 

“ It will cover all the land,” added Artie, “ for 
it’s coming after us ! ” 

“Nonsense!” said George, seeing how scared 
the lad was. “ There’s nothing behind you. 
Listen.” 


ANOTHER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 5 1 


They did so, and the loud break of the sea, like 
thunder on the shore, could be distinctly heard. 

After a brief consultation it was decided to ad- 
vance and reconnoiter. 

Before they had gone far through the bushes 
they not only heard the loud-voiced ocean, but 
could discern the white fringe of foam on the 
billows, which had rushed into the very bushes 
themselves. 

A depression fell on the lads, for they believed 
all their property would be washed away, and they 
saw now the wisdom of Tahi in pronouncing the 
shore a bad place to build their house. 

But this had been no natural tide. The inunda- 
tion had been caused by the eruption of the vol- 
cano, and the waves began as rapidly to subside as 
they had arisen. 

When assured the danger was past, the four 
went on to the shore. 

A scene of devastation awaited them. The hut 
Tahi had erected was a wreck, and the sand was 
strewn with pieces of the wood the boys had so 
carefully stored. 

But to their joy, the great weight of the sailors 


5 2 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


chest, and that of the barrels, had saved them from 
being carried away by the sudden rise and fall of 
the waters. 

Suddenly George cried : “ The boat ! the boat ! 
Has it gone? ” 

But no; this disaster at least had been saved 
them. Fortunately they had fastened it too 
securely, and though it had been severely tossed, 
it yet was safe. 

The question now was how to pass the night. 
Calling a council, the question was put, and Tahi 
answered it. 

Making his way to a group of palm trees not 
growing too close to the sea, he attached several 
saplings horizontally to the trunks with strips 
made from a pair of canvas bags. 

Then he interlaced them with strong boughs 
until he had formed a large platform like an 
aerial raft, capable of bearing the united weight 
of the five, for George would not part with Carlo. 

After this, having resecured the chest, barrels, 
and wood, and finding the sea had subsided, while 
the eruption now only caused a faint glow in the 
sky, they all, wearied in mind and body, climbed 


ANOTHER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 53 

onto their high bed, which made them safe from 
the disturbance of night prowlers, and soon were 
sound asleep. 

When they awoke next morning the sun was 
shining brightly. A soft, pleasant northwest 
wind was playing among the canopy of thick pin- 
nated palm leaves, and the sea laughed and heaved 
and sparkled under the glorious light of day. 

Tahi again undertook to prepare breakfast. 

Having set the breadfruit to bake, he took 
several empty cocoanut shells and went up the 
valley. 

When he returned the nuts were filled with a 
milky fluid from the cow-tree, sweet and pleasant 
to the taste. 

During breakfast it was agreed that Tahi and 
George should go on an exploring expedition, to 
find a suitable site for the hut they intended to 
build. 

Meanwhile Ned and Artie were to see after the 
stores, which had been only heaped up hurriedly 
the previous evening. 

“ And I’ll tell you what,” said Ned Foley, “ I 
shall paddle the boat into the large bay. Perhaps, 


54 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


after last night, more of the wreck may be washed 
up.” 

“ That’s a good idea,” answered George. 

“ Thank you for your approval,” muttered Ned 
beneath his breath. 

No breakfast things having to be cleared away, 
as soon as the meal was over these modern Cru- 
soes set to work. 


CHAPTER X. 


THE SAVAGES AGAIN. 

It was nearly noon when Tahi and our hero re- 
turned. 

They had discovered a beautiful site about a 
mile distant, a smooth, grassy spot on the side of 
the valley, but not high enough to be easily seen 
or attract attention. 

They reached the beach just as the other two 
returned from their last journey to Gibson Bay, 
as Ned christened it after one of the sailors of 
the Columbia. 

His idea had been fruitful, for they had found 
several fragments of wood, another tea chest and 
a large barrel, which, though empty, might prove 
serviceable from the iron bands around it. 

Altogether, it had been a good morning's work, 
and the young castaways began to forget their 
terror of the previous evening. 

Tahi appeared as much interested as any of 


55 


56 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


them, and they began to think how best to remove 
the stores to their new home. 

The best, and certainly the quickest, way would 
be to take them by the boat, which, as the sea was 
calm, would not be very difficult. 

They instantly, therefore, began to load it, and, 
as it would require a relief of paddlers, it was de- 
cided our hero and Ned should work round the 
boat, with Carlo occasionally to tow, while Tahi, 
with Artie, crossed the headland and directed the 
paddlers where to land. 

When the boat was filled as much as safety and 
the boys’ strength allowed, they pushed it well off 
and started on their journey. 

The paddlers soon reached the bay, more lovely 
than all the rest, where the Indian and Artie 
awaited them. 

The boat being run ashore, it was speedily 
unloaded, but, as the day was far advanced, it was 
not deemed advisable to make a journey for the 
rest of the goods until the following morning. 
So they commenced marking out the foundation 
of their new house. 

There was something so original in the task 


THE SAVAGES AGAIN . 


57 


that the lads worked without feeling fatigue, 
Tahi, by tacit consent, being accepted as fore- 
man. 

By means of applying fire to the roots the sav- 
age felled several trees, hacked off the upper 
branches, and planted them firmly in the ground, 
making a hollow square, leaving an opening for 
the door. 

The roof he formed of tender saplings, which 
were easily bent. 

After interlacing the sides with branches — save 
where the windows or lookouts were to be — he 
finally covered them with wet clay and sand, 
which the sun soon baked to brick hardness, while 
he thatched the roof with thick layers of palm 
leaves, secured by long, fibrous grasses. 

When it was completed the young castaways 
were enchanted, and it certainly presented a capi- 
tal appearance, promising security and shelter 
from the wind and rain. 

After this had been accomplished, the next day 
was employed in getting the balance of the wreck- 
age and furnishing and arranging the interior of 
the house. 


58 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


The whole had nearly taken a week before it 
had been finished, and by this time Tahi had come 
to be looked upon quite as one of themselves. 

Our hero felt almost an affection for him, and 
often, seated on their “ lookout,” would listen to 
his accounts of his dear home. 

Poor fellow ! he had left all he loved there, and 
as he spoke of his wife and children tears stood in 
his eyes. 

The sea-chest washed ashore had contained the 
invaluable prize of a telescope, and with this our 
hero would pass hours on the lookout, scanning 
the ocean for a sail. 

These modern Crusoes were far better off than 
they could have hoped, yet, when George thought 
of his father and his grief at his supposed loss in 
the Columbia he yearned for his parent and his 
heart felt ready to burst. 

One evening about sunset, he was so engaged 
when several dark, tiny specks, just where the sun 
sent a blood-red band across the water, attracted 
his attention. 

He gazed intently, then, leaping to his feet, ran 
down to the house. 


THE SAVAGES AG A I IV. 


59 


“ Tahi! Tahi! ” he called, “ I want you on the 
lookout. Come.” 

“ Is it a sail ? ” demanded Ned. 

“ No. I wish it were.” 

The Indian instantly went back with our hero, 
Ned and Artie following. 

On reaching the height, George, giving the tele- 
scope to Tahi, said : 

“ Look ! What are those? ” 

The Indian obeyed, and his color changed. 

In a moment he put down the glass. 

“ Well, Tahi,” demanded our hero breathlessly, 
“ what are they? ” 

“ Cannibals — Ninans,” was the curt reply, “and 
— Misser George — they are coming here ! ” 


CHAPTER XI. 


TO THE RESCUE. 

At Tahi’s words a silence fell on the little party. 

Cannibals! Ninans! and they were coming 
there ! 

Artie turned pale; Ned seemed hardly less agi- 
tated, while the eyes of each were fixed on the 
small specks advancing along the broad red sun- 
ray reflection, as if they took it for their course. 

Swiftly the canoes approached, increasing in 
size. 

George looked at the savage. His face was 
quivering with anger; his dark eyes flashed 
fiercely. He flung his thin, long arms toward the 
boats. 

“ Tahi’s enemies,” he ejaculated; “ the enemies 
of his race. Ah ! if Tahi had his spear.” 

“ It would be useless against so many,” re- 
marked our hero. “ There are four canoes. 
Why do you think they are coming here ? ” 

60 


TO THE RESCUE. 


61 

Tahi shrugged his shoulders. 

“Prisoners/’ he said laconically. “ Feast, eat!” 

“ What ought we to do? ” queried Ned. 

“ Keep still few minutes. Tahi make sure. 
Enemy must see no light. Hate Inglis, savage, 
hate all. Come ! ” 

Signing them to follow, he led the way to 
where the crest of the hill dropped in an opposite 
direction to the canoes, and at which spot a few 
bushes offered concealment, while they did not 
obscure the view. 

Here, lying flat, with only their heads raised, 
the boys and Tahi watched. 

The sun was rapidly sinking, and soon darkness 
would enshroud the land. As yet, however, there 
was sufficient light to distinguish the boats. 

They were, as our hero had stated, four in 
number, and each contained about a dozen black 
figures. 

The canoes were furnished, as is the fashion of 
all Polynesian craft, with outriggers and a sail. 

Over the stern projected a small stage, on which 
one of the crew stood to steer, while the bow was 
turned upward a good height. 


6 2 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


Though the sail, similar to a lateen sail, was 
hoisted, the Ninans used the paddle also, and in 
an incredibly short time reached the shore. 

Not only were they out of sight, but the sun 
had sunk, and night had closed in, and where they 
had landed was, of course, impossible to tell. 

The little party only knew that it was not at 
Hope Bay, as they had christened the spot where 
they were. 

Our hero in his anxiety wished to make for 
one of the headlands and reconnoiter, but Tahi 
advised waiting a while quietly where they were, 
whence they commanded most of the tableland. 

A few minutes proved the wisdom of the sav- 
age’s advice. 

From the path, not quite a mile distant, leading 
up from Gibson Bay, appeared a dark figure, 
which was speedily followed by thirty or forty 
others. 

They walked in single file, with two exceptions, 
where three proceeded abreast. 

“ Prisoners,” remarked Tahi gutturally. 

The Ninans advanced to the broad open plain, 
where they halted. 








g 

.mimi ‘ ,’•! 

'vX&xs&t: <•••.!! 

!?;" 

vi.!*;.;;;;,;;; , ,, ’ *•; ■ 

ik'iiiiiiiiiui 'Ini *'t 

''di'iiiHutt* »/» • 

l a 't« • •* 

*U. H fUi.«u; *f J f| 

..'111 >1(1.1 : In 

HfMiij’-'iis tj ; 


Wk 




iiiiisg 

"sailiiSuip 

WfigMr 

'HJciuj*'"'!:"" ! : '** 

S^«i®gS9i^ 


USs^aKS 




iii'iii.miiirlT.; 

fee*?: 


'iViiiv. V:..-! 


•’Mnhiiii# 

.»»••• H4IIM 


niliiUi 






THE SAVAGES BEGAN A DANCE AROUND THEIR VICTIM. P. 63. 









TO THE RESCUE. 63 

What they were about the watchers could not 
distinguish, but Tahi guessed. 

“ Make fire,” he remarked. 

This proved the case, for speedily a faint glow 
was observable in their midst, which soon broke 
into a high yellow flame, brightly illuminating 
the scene around. 

Some forty savages were performing a wild 
dance round the bonfire. 

Sometimes they joined hands as in a circle; 
sometimes, separating, they performed the most 
grotesque antics and postures, all the while utter- 
ing a barbarous song. 

Tahi pointed to a thick clump of trees and 
bushes, at the foot of which his clear, keen sight 
could distinguish two dark forms lying prostrate. 

“ Surely, surely,” ejaculated George, in horror, 
“ they will not treat them so barbarously ? 
Heaven ! to think of such a cruel fate ! And men 
of their own color, too ! ” 

He stopped, for the Ninans had ended their 
dance and two were advancing to the clump of 
bushes. 

A spasmodic movement passed through Tahi’s 


64 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


frame. Low, fierce, guttural sounds escaped his 
lips, while his dark, glittering eyes were fixed on 
the two Ninans. 

The latter stopped. When they rose one of the 
captives was between them, and they dragged 
him toward the circle. 

Our hero sprang to his feet. “ I cannot stay 
here, Tahi ! ” he exclaimed. “ I must get nearer. 
Can’t we do so without danger ? ” 

The native instantly stood up, signifying his 
willingness to try, and so great was the horrible 
fascination that even Ned and Artie proposed to 
follow. 

George was pale; every nerve quivered, and his 
bright eyes flashed with indignation and anger. 

“ Oh ! ” he exclaimed, “ if Heaven would but 
give us the means to rescue the poor fellows ! ” 

Cautiously they advanced, following Tahi, 
whose gliding, snakelike movement they tried to 
imitate. 

Soon the shouts and songs of the savages grew 
louder. It sounded like jubilant triumph. 

Artie paused. “ Oh, George,” he gasped, 
“ don’t let us go on ! ” 


TO THE RESCUE. 


<>5 


“We must. We are in no danger. The 
trees hide us. Only do not speak,” said 
George. 

A little further, Tahi, halting and signing for 
silence, rose erect. 

A thick, tangled bush was all around them, at 
either side of which they could hear the loud 
voices of the Ninans. 

Out of the bushes grew several trees of thick 
foliage. 

“ Sailor can climb,” whispered the Indian. 
“ Safe up there.” 

The hint was understood, and, as noiseless as 
cats, the four were speedily amid the branches of 
a gigantic tree. 

Securing themselves safely on the boughs, they 
looked down upon the scene. 

As they did so their blood curdled and their 
hearts froze at the horrible spectacle they wit- 
nessed. 

Near the enormous fire, which the savages 
partly surrounded, was a clear space, in which a 
bamboo stake had been driven. 

To this was bound a wretched victim, who had 


66 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

been evidently subjected to the most diabolical 
torture. 

“ Oh, it is horrible ! I cannot bear it,” whis- 
pered our hero, turning sick and averting his face. 
“ Tahi, can nothing be done to stop those 
demons? ” 

a What a stupid you are, Blake!” said Ned 
fiercely. “ Can’t you hold your tongue ? Do 
you want us all to be stabbed and frizzled like 
him? I dare say, if his people had captured the 
Ninans they’d have treated them the same.” 

“ Oh, Heaven, have pity upon him and them ! ” 
prayed George to himself. 

Tahi, who appeared deeply affected, placed hifi 
hands on the boys’ shoulders to warn them to be 
silent. 

“ He has suffered and made no sound,” he whis- 
pered proudly. “ It is all over — see? ” 

Glancing in the direction indicated, they saw 
the savages had retired, leaving a clear space of 
some twenty yards before their victim. 

His head drooped on his chest ; every limb was 
relaxed. 

Our hero thought that it was indeed over — 


TO THE RESCUE. 67 

that he was dead, when one of the Ninans, tall, 
and straight as an arrow, advanced from the rest. 

He carried a spear, about twelve feet in length, 
down the sides of which, to within three feet of 
the butt, were set formidable rows of sharks’ teeth. 

Waving this, as if to attract attention, he, in 
his guttural tongue, evidently flung insult and 
scorn upon the helpless victim. 

In a second the face of the latter, burnt and 
scarred, was lifted, the limbs drawn together, and 
the prisoner haughtily cast back insult and de- 
fiance. 

He ended with the war whoop of his tribe, and 
again his head fell on his chest. 

The other, raising his spear, poised himself 
lightly on the earth, then hurled the deadly 
weapon. 

The aim was unerring. It pierced the captive’s 
heart, and he died, as he had suffered, without a 
groan. 

The rush that was made toward the body to 
prepare it for the horrible cannibal feast prevented 
the cry Tahi gave from being heard. 

The poor fellow was all of a tremble with agi- 


6 8 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 

tation. Tears of impotent fury were in his eyes 
as the savages began a dance around their victim. 

“ What is it? ” asked our hero. 

“ He of Tahi’s race,” answered the Indian, 
pointing toward the dead savage. “ Ninans at 
war with Tahi’s race. Ah, he was a brave; he 
died only as braves do.” 

“ Tahi,” said George in a low voice, “ over 
there near the crowd alone is another of your race, 
waiting a similar fate. Can’t we save him ? ” 

The Indian raised his head. 

“Yes; Tahi will try,” he replied earnestly. 

“ Very well,” remarked our hero quietly; “ as 
I never proposed a danger yet to another I would 
not face myself, I shall go too, Tahi.” 

In another moment, despite the protestations 
of Ned and Artie, the pair were off on their dan- 
gerous mission. 


CHAPTER XII. 


A HASTY FLIGHT. 

“ We'll save that prisoner if we can,” said 
George, as he and the native moved forward 
through the brush. 

Frequently they feared the light from the last 
bonfire, which fell brightly on the bushes, would 
betray them, but apparently the Ninans, who be- 
lieved the island to be uninhabited, were too much 
occupied in dancing and preparing for the coming 
feast. 

“ Why do they not kill the second at once, 
Tahi ? ” whispered George. 

“ One ’nough to eat,” was the rejoinder. 
“After eat him, torture second, but take body 
home.” 

George shuddered, and felt more resolved to 
save the destined victim if possible. 

Owing to the need of caution, and the wide cir- 
69 


7 ° 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


cuit they had to make, it was fully twenty minutes 
before they reached the bushes near which was the 
prisoner, strongly bound. 

He lay as motionless as if he were dead. 

This was the perilous moment. If he uttered 
any cry, or rose erect, the Ninans would be upon 
them, and their fate, as well as his, sealed. 

Tahi, taking George’s knife, lay flat on the 
ground, and began to wriggle forward. 

Though to our hero he made no sound, the 
prisoner heard him. He turned his head, prob- 
ably believing it to be a wild boar. 

In a second Tahi’s hand was on his mouth, and 
words of his own language in his ear. 

The next his bonds were severed — he was free, 
and being bidden to make for the canoe. 

He understood them, rolled gently round, and 
wriggled to the bushes. 

Suddenly a dark form sprang up before them. 

It was a Ninan who had been placed there on 
guard. 

The yell he uttered rendered further conceal- 
ment impossible. 

The Ninans, at the warning cry, came rushing 


A HASTY FLIGHT. 


7i 

forward as a cloud, yelling and brandishing their 
spears, while their former captive, leaping erect, 
sprang into the bushes. 

There he and Tahi, who, in the savage excite- 
ment and his own warlike temperament, had for- 
gotten apparently our hero, shouted back the war 
cry of their tribe. 

It was answered by a cloud of spears. 

They darted, swift as death, through the 
branches. 

One whizzed close by George’s ear, who, seeing 
he could do nothing better, wisely fled. 

Where, he thought or cared not, so that he 
could escape from the cruel Ninans. 

Their savage yells rang in his ears, and each in- 
stant he expected to feel their fearful spears quiv- 
ering in his flesh. 

Once he looked round for Tahi and the others, 
but they were not to be seen. 

He dared not stay longer, and madly he sped 
on, breaking his way through the trees. 

His brain was in a whirl — he saw nothing be- 
fore his eyes but the burnt, gashed face of the 
miserable victim, as he shrieked his war cry. 


72 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


Before he could calm his hot and whirling brain 
the whole earth seemed to give way beneath 
him. 

Instinctively he threw out his arms, for he 
knew he had, in the dark and in his mad speed, 
tumbled over a precipice. 

The leaves he grasped gave away beneath his 
weight, and he fell, he knew not whither. 

The next thing that our hero remembered was 
that the sun was streaming into his eyes and that 
he was suffering much pain. 

The mental question instantly occurred, where 
was he, and how had he got there ? 

Raising his eyes, he saw that he lay at the foot 
of a small precipice, the side of which was thickly 
overgrown with bushes. 

All which had passed then flashed upon 
him. He recollected the pursuit of the Ninans, 
his flight and fall over the precipice in the 
dark. 

But where had he fallen? 

He strove to rise, but dropped back with a cry 
of pain. Every bone seemed to have a separate 
ache of its owfi, while that of his left ankle was 


A HASTY FLIGHT . 


73 


so intense that he knew he had sprained if not dis- 
located it. 

He had escaped the cannibals, but had he es- 
caped death ? 

Fully an hour elapsed before he managed to 
raise himself sufficiently to look around. 

Though it caused him considerable pain, his 
senses proved that no bones were broken, and he 
hoped his ankle was only sprained. 

He found he had fallen into a small valley 
opening onto a tiny bay, closed in by two high, 
precipitous headlands. 

His ankle began to burn with excruciating 
pain. 

Our hero knew something ought to be done, so 
he sat up and examined the member. 

Fortunately his boots were so worn that he 
could easily remove them, when he found the one 
ankle very red and swollen. 

Gathering some succulent leayes within reach, 
he crushed them into a thick, cool pulp, which he 
applied to the sprain, securing it by a broad leaf, 
fastened by strong fiber grass. 

This gave him instant relief ; and, assured long 


74 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


ago that Tahi was right in his statement that no 
dangerous animals were on the island, he drew 
himself out of the heat of the sun, and lying down 
was soon fast asleep. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


FROM ONE PERIL TO ANOTHER. 

The next morning our hero found that he 
could crawl, but that his ankle would not permit 
him to do more than limp for a few yards. 

Having breakfasted, he resolved to explore the 
place, and commenced by crawling to the sands, 
which he found strewn with beautiful shells of 
every hue. 

Most were empty, though some yet had their 
owners at home, but George was ignorant 
whether they were edible or not. 

Like the other bays, the vegetation grew to the 
very edge of the sands, while the sea never, even 
at low tide, permitted a dry passage round the 
headlands. 

During his inspection the young Crusoe per- 
ceived that the bay possessed one of those caves 
they had noticed as they had paddled their little 
Store of goods round to Hope Bay. 

75 


76 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


At first he hesitated to enter, but seeing noth- 
ing to fear he crawled to its mouth. 

There he halted, breathless with wonder. 

Again he might have believed himself in fairy- 
land. The sun, penetrating the cave for a few 
feet, caused the sides, the roof, the very floor, to 
sparkle, as if incrusted by precious stones. Fes- 
toons as of jewels hung from the top branches of 
the trees, which were of magical beauty. 

Absorbed with interest, George crawled further 
and further, at first unconscious of the dull, boom- 
ing sound which filled the cavern. 

But suddenly it burst upon him with a terrific 
roar like thunder. A moment our hero paused, 
stunned. The whole place echoed with the ter- 
rific reverberation. It seemed as though the 
entire headland was falling in upon him. 

Recollecting the volcano, he turned, and half- 
limped, half-crawled as quickly as he was able 
from the cave. 

Before he had reached the entrance, however, 
the roar had died away to the dull, booming 
sound. 

But the pace our hero had moved had made 


FROM ONE PERIL TO ANOTHER. 


77 


his ankle painful, so he dragged himself back to 
his former resting-place, and determined to try to 
wait patiently, nursing his foot, until the next day, 
when possibly he would be strong enough to 
ascend the valley and reconnoiter, to see if he 
could discover any trace of the Ninans, for 
his heart was torn by anxiety for his 
companions. 

It seemed almost the space of two days before 
George saw to his delight the sun again sink and 
night close in. 

The rest had much benefited his ankle, and he 
trusted to walk next day. 

Sleep, however, was not easy. 

He had not had sufficient exercise, so when he 
did slumber it was but lightly, and the soft lap-lap 
of the tide seemed ever present to him; at least, he 
was instantly conscious when it was abruptly 
intermingled by another sound, the rustle of 
leaves, as if someone was brushing through the 
bushes. 

Softly he rose to his elbows and looked in the 
direction. 

What was his horror when he beheld the dim 


78 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


outline of a savage coming quickly up the valley 
from the shore toward him. 

The obscurity was too great for him to perceive 
more than that it was an Indian, and that in his 
hand he carried one of the terribly formidable 
shark-tooth spears. 

His only hope was that the savage would not 
perceive him where he lay. 

The hope was wild, improbable, for the bushes 
but partly concealed him, and he was directly in 
the Indian’s path. 

He would have liked to draw further back, but 
dared not. 

The slightest rustle would surely attract the at- 
tention of the acute-eared savage. 

He must remain quiet and trust to Providence. 

His heart now beat so loudly that he feared it 
would be heard. His eyes were riveted on the 
advancing enemy. 

There are those who say if you gaze intently on 
another, the power of the eye is such the person is 
sure to look at you. 

Was it that, or did the savage hear the full, 
swelling beat of our hero’s heart? 


FROM ONE PERIL TO ANOTHER. 


79 


Certain it is, he stopped abruptly when he came 
within a few feet and threw up his head. 

His glance instantly fell on the boy. 

One second he paused, and then, giving a loud, 
guttural cry, he leaped toward our hero ! 


CHAPTER XIV. 


HOW ARTIE FARED. 

For a brief space we must return to the two lads 
who remained trembling with fear, for, secretly, 
Ned was equally frightened as Artie, up in the 
tree, after our hero and Tahi had left them. 

Instead of applauding the generosity and cour- 
age of the pair, Ned felt himself a most injured 
party, and hated George worse than ever. 

No sooner were the two alone than naturally 
they turned their attention again to the savages. 

The chief part of them were seated in a circle, 
jabbering in their outlandish tongue, or singing 
wild, guttural songs, apparently of joy and 
triumph, while at a little distance the rest were 
preparing the human feast. 

“It’s very horrible, isn’t it, Ned?” whispered 
Artie. “ I’m quite sick. I do wish George and 
Tahi would come back. Only think, if those de- 
mons should spy us out ! ” 

So 


HOW ARTIE EARED. 


Si 

“Why should they?” ejaculated Artie. “If 
the Look!” 

The Indians had evidently completed their 
culinary preparations, and were now putting their 
victims to roast. 

Artie could bear no more. “ Oh ! ” he groaned, 
and, deadly faint, tumbled from the tree. 

At the same instant the Indians sprang up with 
a whoop, brandishing their spears. 

Ned instantly gave himself up for lost, and * 
without one thought of his companion, slid from 
the branch he was on to the ground, and fled with 
all his might. 

He ran for nearly a mile, the whoop of the In- 
dians seeming to follow him in his terror. 

Then, out of breath, coming to a large, densely 
foliaged tree, he climbed into the branches. 

Here he listened attentively. 

He could yet hear the shouting of the savages. 
But instead of being nearer, they were evidently 
much further off. 

This comforted him considerably, and he 
hitched himself more securely on the boughs. 

Meanwhile, though a bush had somewhat 


$2 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


broken Artie’s fall, he had come down upon his 
arm, causing such exquisite pain that he feared it 
must be broken. 

The poor little fellow could not suppress a cry, 
despite his terror of the savages. 

“ Ned, Ned!” he whispered. “Oh, do, do 
help me up ! ” 

Then he uttered a piteous cry, for he beheld his 
cowardly companion slip to the ground and fly, 
leaving him alone. 

“ Oh, Ned, Ned ! ” he pleaded, tear in his young 
voice; “ don’t leave me, please don’t; it’s unkind. 
They’ll catch and eat me.” 

There was no response, no slackening of Ned’s 
speed, and soon he was gone. 

Artie strove to follow, but the effort proved that 
his knee was twisted. 

He could only limp painfully. 

In despair he dropped at the foot of the tree, 
sobbing. * 

“ Oh, they’ll get me! They’ll torture, kill, and 
roast me!” he wept. “I shall never see my 
mother and father, nor brother Dick and baby 
Nellie, again. Oh, Ned, I wouldn’t have thought 


HOW ARTIE EARED. S3 

you could have been so cruel, so beastly cruel! 
George wouldn’t have left me like this ! ” 

At that instant the attempted rescue of the 
prisoner was discovered, and the Ninans uttered 
their cry of war and fury. 

As the poor little lad heard it he shrieked aloud, 
making a violent effort to get up and fly. 

Then, overcome by pain and fright, he sunk 
back upon the grass insensible. 

When he came to his senses the moon, high up 
in the heavens, was shining down upon him. 

Not the faintest sound broke the silence, save 
the distant break of the sea on the shore. 

Mustering his courage, and finding his arm 
and knee much less painful, Artie rose, and after 
one or two efforts succeeded in climbing the tree. 

Of course his attention was directed to the 
plain which had been intended by the Ninans for 
their dining-room. 

All now was deserted. The huge bonfire was 
only a heap of glowing embers, from which now 
and again a tiny flame would flicker out and drop. 

On these occasions they lighted up several large 
black masses lying on the ashes, which sickened 


84 LOST OrL VOLCANO LSLAND. 

the lad once more, for he divined what they 
were. 

If any boy was utterly, hopelessly miserable, it 
was Artie Battison at that moment. 

He found no pleasure in being a solitary 
castaway. 

He wondered what had become of Ned, and 
George, and kind Tahi, who had taught them so 
much. 

Instinctively his young hands went together, 
and he prayed that they were safe. 

Then Artie began to think what he should do. 

Should he go back to the house? He might 
find George and Tahi there. 

The lad shook his head sadly. 

He felt sure that had they been able to get to 
the house, George would have certainly come back 
to them. 

He might find Ned there. 

Somehow this idea did not cause him much 
pleasure, save that it would be companion- 
ship. 

“ I shall find Carlo there at any rate,” he re- 
flected. And his heart at once seemed lightened. 


HOW ARTIE FARED. 85 

“ I shall not feel so lonely or frightened with 
him.” 

Descending the tree, he cautiously made his 
way back to the house. 

On coming down the hill he saw the door was 
open, as they had left it. 

The bright moon shone obliquely into the in- 
terior, and the first object Artie beheld as he drew 
near was Carlo on guard, his muzzle on his paws. 

On hearing the lad he raised his head and 
wagged his tail in recognition. 

Artie, going to his side, knelt and threw his 
arms around his shaggy neck. He no longer felt 
alone. 

The dog licked his cheek caressingly, then gave 
vent to a low whine. The boy knew his meaning 
as well as if he had spoken it. 

“ No, dear old Carlo, your master has not come. 
I hope he will, but I don’t know where he is. I 
fear, Carlo, those horrible Indians have got him 
and Tahi.” 

The animal, on his side, apparently understood 
the lad’s meaning as if he had whined it in canine 
tongue, for, raising his muzzle, he gave a plaintive 


86 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


howl, followed at brief intervals by piteous 
whines. 

As he would not leave his post, the little soli- 
tary shipwrecked lad lay down beside him, and, 
his fair head on his dark, shaggy coat and his 
arms round his neck, soon fell asleep. But the 
dog did not sleep. 

His beautiful head he kept erect, and his eyes, 
full of eager, anxious watchfulness, were directed 
out of the door, while ever and anon he whined 
sadly. 

He had understood Artie, and was making up 
his sagacious mind what to do. 

Whether to disobey our hero's commands to 
wait where he was until he came back, or to go in 
search of the master he loved ? 

Honor and obedience are two of the leading 
attributes of the canine race, and Carlo found the 
dilemma he was in a grievous point to decide. 

So the hours stole on. The sun rose higher, 
higher, when, abruptly, Artie lifted his eyes, 
broad awake. 

He had been aroused by a low, warning growl 
from the dog. 


HOW ARTIE EARED. 


S7 


The animal's glance was bent upon a cluster of 
breadfruit trees and bushes about thirty feet from 
the door. 

The bushes were moving and faintly rustling. 
Something was among them. 


CHAPTER XV. 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE AGAIN. 

To go back to George at the time he found him- 
self confronted by the savage with the spear. 

For an instant the boy thought his last hour had 
come. 

He closed his eyes. 

Whizz ! The savage’s spear came down at his 
feet. 

Amazed to find himself untouched, he glanced 
down to behold that the point of the weapon had 
severed in two a venomous scorpion, which must 
have been close to his hand. 

More and more astonished, he lifted his eyes to 
the savage. 

Then a great cry of joy burst from his lips, and 
he exclaimed: 

“ Tahi, is it really you, alive and safe? Oh, 

dear Tahi, I am so glad ! ” 

88 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE AGAIN. 89 

“ Tahi glad, too/’ answered the friendly Indian, 
kneeling and expressing his delight in uncouth 
gestures. “ Yes, yes, Misser George’s safe. Ni- 
nans not got him. Oh, Tahi feared, Tahi 
feared ! ” 

And he touched his forehead to the ground, 
while tears actually rolled from the grateful fel- 
low’s eyes. 

Our hero was laughing rather hysterically. In 
his weakened state the revulsion of feeling had 
been a little too much for him. 

“ So did I fear, dear Tahi. I feared for you, 
and I feared you yourself just now. I took you 
for one of the Indians, and thought I was done 
for. You good old fellow, whatever made you 
spring upon me like that ? ” 

The Indian pointed gravely to the scorpion. 

“ When Tahi saw Misser George, Tahi saw 
that too, about to sting Misser George’s hand. 
No moment could be lost. If Tahi pause or 
Misser George move scorpion sting Misser 
George; perhaps swell and die.” 

In horror our hero drew away from the rep- 
tile, though now it was harmless enough. 


9 ° 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


It was about a foot long and much resembled 
a lobster. 

It had eight feet, two frontal claws, eight eyes, 
though not easily perceptible, and a pointed tail, at 
the end of which was the deadly sting 

“ Tahi,” said George with emotion, as he 
grasped the Indian’s hand, “ you may have saved 
my life ! ” 

The savage shrugged his shoulders. 

“ Misser George saved Tahi, and tried to save 
Tahi’s friend,” he answered. 

“ Tried? Then he was not saved? ” 

“ Yes,” replied the Indian sadly; “ saved from 
the Ninans’ torture, but not from the Ninans’ 
spears. Minalmi,” and he drew his head erect, 
“ died like a brave.” 

Our hero, in a few words, told his story. 

Tahi was much delighted that he had escaped, 
and, examining his ankle, redressed it. 

The hour was too late to proceed to Hope Bay 
that night, for much time had been occupied in 
talking. 

Therefore it was resolved that they should stop 
where they were until dawn. 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE AGAIN. 


9 * 


At least, not where they were, for, for fear of 
scorpions, Tahi proposed an adjournment to the 
cave. 

As they were about to depart a sound arrested 
them. 

There was some animal or some person coming 
swiftly down the small valley, snuffling as he 
came. 

“Hog!” said the savage, laconically, poising 
his spear. 

Our hero had leaned breathlessly forward. 
Suddenly he sprang up, catching his companion’s 
arm. 

“No, no, Tahi!” he cried, in terror; “don’t 
throw it! It’s no hog — it’s Carlo.” 

No sooner did the noble dog hear his master’s 
voice than he gave a sharp, joyous bark, and with 
a bound from the bushes was in George’s arms. 

Yes, literally, for, rearing himself erect, wag- 
ging his tail madly with joy, he placed his fore- 
paws on the shoulders of our hero, who, his eyes 
dimmed with emotion, pressed the fond creature 
to him, caressing him with word and touch. 

Tahi now lead the way to where he had spent 


92 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


the night, and our hero very soon, despite the dull, 
perpetual, booming reverberation, slept soundly. 

For how long he knew not, when he sprang up, 
crying : 

“ Tahi, listen; there is that awful sound.” 

It seemed to echo like loudest thunder through 
the place. 

“ No danger,” answered the Indian calmly. 
“ Misser George shall see — sight grand.” 

Rising, he hastened from the cave, our hero 
following in surprise. 

The sun, he found, had already risen; but a 
brisk wind blew, and the sea was rolling in in long, 
high waves. 

Selecting a dry, resinous piece of tree, Tahi, by 
the aid of flints, managed to set one end in a blaze. 

It burned fiercely, and with this torch they re- 
entered the cave. 

As the yellow flame danced on the walls and 
roof they seemed festooned and incrusted by 
jewels of every hue. 

Only beyond was darkness, and even out of 
that, as the light caught projecting stalactites, 
they flashed like starry gems. 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE AGAIN. 


93 


Soon, however, the boy’s mind was engrossed 
in the booming noise, which grew louder and 
louder each step they took. 

They had passed their couch some way when 
Tahi stopped, and, raising the torch aloft, said: 

“ Look!” 

They were standing in a high, roughly circular, 
vaulted chamber of rock, incrusted and garlanded 
with stalactites. 

Opposite, about thirty feet before them, was the 
black mouth of another entrance leading yet fur- 
ther into the earth. 

But between them and it yawned a huge chasm. 

It was from this the booming sound arose. 

Our hero’s cheek turned pale, and involuntarily 
he sprang back, for the thought occurred to him 
had he proceeded unchecked when he had explored 
the cave what might have been his fate. 

“ Look,” repeated the Indian, waving high the 
torch as he bent his head over the abyss. 

Rather nervously his companion complied, and 

t 

the sight made his brain spin. 

The sides of the chasm were of coral formation, 
and descended sheer down for quite fifty feet, 


94 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 

where it evidently became connected with an inlet 
from the sea, for the bottom was one seething 
caldron of whirling, dashing foam, which, as the 
waves rushed in, was hurled high against the 
sides, creating that deafening roar, while the 
spray was flung upwards in fountain-like show- 
ers, taking all the prismatic hues in the torch- 
light. 

George gazed in bewildered awe at this wonder 
of nature, the spray from the billows reaching his 
face. 

Then a singular sensation came upon him. 

It seemed as if some water sprite were beckon- 
ing him, drawing him into the abyss. 

An irresistible feeling appeared, urging him to 
fling himself over. 

He had just presence of mind left to throw his 
head back, crying : 

“ Tahi, Tahi, save me or I must go down! ” 

His body was inclined forward. 

His feet were losing their firmness. 

Another moment and it would have been too 
late. 

Dropping the torch into the turmoil of foam, 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE AGAIN. 


95 


the Indian, swift as light, cast his arms round the 
boy and bore him back insensible. 

When he came to he found the kind Tahi had 
carried him out of the cave and placed him on the 
warm sands, where the cool breeze had speedily 
cured his vertigo. 

“ Again I owe you my life, Tahi,” he said, 
pressing the Indian’s hand gratefully. “ Had 
you not been there I should certainly have fallen 
over. I’ll never visit that cave again. Now, 
shall we have breakfast and then start for Hope 
Bay? I am more anxious than I can tell about 
Artie and Ned, though, as you saw the Ninans 
take to the canoes, it is not likely that our com- 
panions fell into their clutches, thank Heaven ! ” 

Tahi readily signified acquiescence, and they 
ascended the valley to the plain. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


ARTIE DISPLAYS COURAGE. 

Poor Artie felt a cold perspiration start out 
over him as he gazed at the gently moving 
branches. 

He expected every moment to see the dark, 
feathered head of one of the awful savages pro- 
trude from the concealment of leaves. 

The horrible scene he had witnessed the pre- 
vious night recurred to him, and he vividly pic- 
tured its re-enactment, only, this time, himself 
taking the part of the victim. 

He looked at Carlo. He knew the dog would 
fly at the throat of anyone who had tried to harm 
George. But would he protect him in that 
fashion ? 

Driven to desperation, Artie, who was really 
no coward, determined not to lose his life without 
a struggle. 

Making a circuit of the interior on his hands 

96 


ARTIE DISPLAYS CO UR AGE. 97 

and knees, he got behind the rude door, which he 
quickly pushed to, and dropped the bar our hero 
had constructed across it. 

Then he ran to the officers’ chest, which had 
been stored away in one corner, and opening it 
he took out a pair of pistols. 

They were loaded, but unfortunately there was 
no more powder when that was gone. 

Because of this they had been put aside for some 
grave emergency. 

To Artie no graver could there be than the 
present. 

Thus armed, he clambered up to the window, 
and, after a glance through, extended one of the 
weapons at the bushes. 

Before, however, he could pull the trigger, 
which was stiff, a voice calling out suddenly in the 
greatest terror arrested him. 

“ Don’t fire, stupid ! ” cried the voice. “ It’s I. 
Put the pistol down.” 

“ What, is it you, Ned? ” cried the lad, nearly 
letting the firearm off in his delight. 

“Yes; put down the pistol and I’ll come 
out.” 


9 8 


LOST OAT VOLCANO ISLAND. 


Artie instantly sprang down, restored the 
weapon to its place, and ran to the door. 

In his joy at having his solitude broken he for- 
got at the instant all about Ned’s cowardly de- 
sertion. 

As he flung the door wide open Ned met him, 
his face suddenly ill-tempered. 

“ What an idiot you were,” he grumbled; “ if 
you had fired you might have killed me.” 

“ But how did I know it was you, Ned? ” was 
the apologetic rejoinder. “ Why didn’t you come 
out ? ” 

“ Come out ? That was likely. How did I 
know but that the place was full of those niggers ? 
How did you get here ? ” 

Artie informed him. 

“ Humph ! When you were such a stupid as 
to tumble off the tree, I thought you were done 
for. Have you seen anything of Blake and 
Tahi?” 

“ No.” 

“ I daresay the niggers caught ’em. Serves 
’em right.” 

“ Oh, Ned!” 


ARTIE DISPLAYS COURAGE. 


99 


“ I don't care; why did they go? There’s his 
dog,” he concluded, kicking out at Carlo. Artie 
threw himself between, his fair face flushed and 
his hands clenched. 

“ Don’t do that, Ned! ” he cried. “ The poor 
dog has done no harm. On the contrary, he 
saved your life; you’re always forgetting that. I 
won’t have him hurt. I should have been wretched 
enough last night but for him.” 

Ned’s good-looking face grew dark. 

But there was something in Artie’s glance, 
young, weakly built as he was, that made him 
after his purpose, and he burst into a short 
laugh. 

“ I’m not going to hurt the dog,” he sneered; 
“ take care of him for your favorite.” 

“ He’s not my favorite,” said Artie; “ but I 
know this, Ned, he’d never have run away from 
a comrade as you did last night.” 

“ I thought you were following, of course I 
did,” replied the other, reddening; “that is, I 
thought you’d run and that I was following you. 
I couldn’t make it out when I couldn’t overtake 
you. But look here; you say Blake wouldn’t 

LofC. 


100 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


have left a comrade. Now, I’ve been thinking 
over it, and my idea is that his going with Tahi 
to rescue that nigger was all a ruse. I believe 
they have gone. They crept down to the canoes, 
stole one, and they’re off.” 

“ Do you really think so ? ” exclaimed Artie, 
aghast, as he drew near. 

“ I feel certain.” 

“ That would have been cowardly. But no, 
Ned, that can’t be. George would never have 
left his dog.” 

“ Bosh. He’d have taken the brute if he had 
been there; as he wasn’t, he went without him. 
Blake’s all talk and boast; I always told you so. 
Preach, preach, preach. I’m glad he’s gone; 
we shall get on jollily without him.” 

Whatever the other’s private opinion was, he 
did not express it, but, Ned suggesting breakfast, 
instantly began to prepare it. 

The meal over, they stole out to the headland, 
which commanded a distant view of Gibson Bay, 
and, much to their satisfaction, perceived there 
were no signs of the Indians’ canoes. 

Returning, they employed the day as best they 


ARTIE DISPLAYS COURAGE. 


IOI 


could near the house, fearing as yet to go far 
away. 

Artie took care to provide Carlo with food, for 
the animal refused to quit his post. 

He lay undecided, whining in a low, plaintive 
tone. 

Despite Ned’s boasting and assurance the day 
wore away very wearily, and both were glad 
when night fell and they could go to rest. 

They shut the door securely, with the dog in- 
side, and Ned having placed the pistols near his 
hand the boys lay down. 

But for a long time Artie remained awake, and 
his last wish before he fell asleep was that our 
hero and Tahi would return. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

THE BURNING SHIP. 

On the following morning Ned and Artie went 
to the shore. No vessel or person was in sight. 

All day they worked and watched eagerly. 

In the meantime Carlo slipped away. 

Night at length fell, but the dog, as the reader 
is aware, did not come back, and when the lads 
went to bed they felt more frightened than they 
had yet done, and took care to make the door and 
windows as secure as they could. 

They tossed about wakefully for some time, 
when Artie, sitting up, exclaimed : 

“ Oh, Ned, what stupids we are ! Here are 
two days passed, and we’ve never once been up 
to the lookout. George would never have been 
so remiss. How do we know but that ships have 
passed ? ” 

“ Ships ! Oh, oceans, of course. Well, we’ll 


102 


THE BURNING SHIP. 103 

go up after breakfast to-morrow. I wish that 
dog hadn’t gone; he was good for taking care 
of the house, if nothing else. Now, do go to 
sleep.” 

The morning meal was rather hurried over, and 
the lads set out for the hill. 

If they should but see a ship ! 

The idea held them mute as they hurried on. 

Suddenly, however, Ned halted, changed color, 
and caught Artie’s arm. 

‘‘Hark!” he whispered; “I am sure I heard 
voices.” 

“ No? ” gasped the other. 

“ Yes. Listen. If it be, we must run for the 
house.” 

Eagerly they bent forward, their eyes fixed on 
the crest of the hill. 

If there had been voices they had ceased. 

The two began to consider whether they should 
proceed, when Artie uttered a cry, then a shout, 
for a black head was thrust over the hill toward 
them — a very black head, indeed. “ It’s Carlo ! ” 
ejaculated the boy, and, forgetful of the voices, he 
ran forward. 


104 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. “» 


“What, Artie !” cried a voice; “safe and 
sound ? Thank Heaven ! ” 

And our hero was soon shaking the lad’s and 
Ned’s hand, while Tahi grinned and the dog 
bounded and jumped with delight. 

At least for the present all animosities were for- 
gotten. 

They made the day a festival to commemorate 
their reunion, and each recounted his adventures. 

Even after night had long fallen they were sit- 
ting on the sands, though there was a stiff breeze, 
listening to Tahi reciting stories of the Ninans and 
other tribes, when through the darkness and the 
stillness came the boom of a gun. 

In a second each was on his feet. 

“ A ship, a ship at last ! ” they shouted fran- 
tically. 

Then — boom ! — came another. 

“ She is in distress,” exclaimed our hero, his 
tone altering; “ it is a minute gun.” 

“ She is on the reef,” ejaculated Ned. 

“ That’s strange, in such a slight breeze,” re- 
sponded our hero, “ unless she’s lost her reckon- 
ing.” 


THE BURNING SHIP. 


105 

Again the gun boomed forth. 

“ Come ! come ! ” cried Artie. 

And they all sped to the headland. 

No sooner did they reach it than a cry burst 
from every throat. 

The dark sky in one part was broken by a patch 
of vivid, lurid red. 

“ She is on fire ! ” cried our hero, in horror. 

As far as our hero and his companions could 
judge, the ship, which was on fire, lay about two 
miles beyond the coral reef. 

The flames must already have got a great mas- 
tery, for they seemed to curl up the masts and rig- 
ging themselves. 

This, however, may have been but a deception 
of vision created by the great glare, for the very 
smoke appeared red with fire, which made the 
heavens, and also the waters for a considerable 
radius, luminous. 

On the deck dark figures could be seen moving 
to and fro, some evidently performing their duty, 
others frantically darting here and there, wild 
with terror. 

“ The flames have got too strong a hold for 


106 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

man to extinguish,” exclaimed our hero excitedly, 
“ while the fresh breezes but fan it as a bellows. 
Ned, Tahi, don’t you think we had better take the 
boat and go to their rescue? We at least may 
save some.” 

“ They’ll have their own boats,” retorted Ned; 
“ their difficulty, I suspect, will be in finding the 
inlet through the barrier reefs.” 

“ That’s true; and the tide is so low the boats 
will be capsized if they attempt to cross. We’d 
best take the boat.” 

“ But confound it all,” ejaculated Ned, “ how 
are you to row with only one oar ? ” 

“ There am the paddle,” broke in the savage 
quickly; “ Tahi use that like two.” 

“ Then which of us shall go ? ” exclaimed 
George; “ there isn’t, you know, a moment to be 
lost.” 

He was anxious himself to accompany the In- 
dian, but was too unselfish to try to place himself 
always in the lead. 

He hardly need have feared. 

Ned, aware how easily a boat might in the dark- 
ness be capsized by a treacherous reef or the 


THE BURNING SHIP. 


107 

crowding in of a lot of excited, terrified men 
and women, had no desire to risk the life he 
valued. 

So, with well-acted generosity, he said : 

“ You may go, old fellow. And I’ll tell you 
what — while you’re gone Artie and I will make a 
roaring bonfire on this headland to show the poor 
wretches there is land and assistance near.” 

“ Bravo, that’s a capital thought ! ” cried our 
hero enthusiastically. “Begin at once, Ned; 
Tahi and I can push off the boat alone.” 

In a second all were at work. 

Artie and Ned were not long in gathering an 
immense pile of withered leaves and branches, the 
dryness of which caused them easily to be ignited. 

Speedily a long, spiral flame shot up into the 
air. 

George gave a shout of delight on perceiving it, 
as he and the Indian ran the boat into the sea and 
leaped in. 

“ That was an excellent idea of Ned’s,” he re- 
marked; “ it will comfort yonder poor sufferers.” 

The boat was more unwieldly than the slim, 
graceful native canoes, but with its outriggers. 


108 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

nevertheless, to our hero’s joy and surprise, the 
savage sent it on with marvelous rapidity. 

As they drew away from the island they could 
see the bonfire distinctly, and that Artie and Ned 
were constantly replenishing it with fresh armfuls 
of fuel. 

The glare was immense. 

“ I say, Tahi,” exclaimed' George suddenly, 
“ may not that bonfire bring the Ninans back upon 
us?” 

The Indian shook his head, smiling. 

“ Ninans take blaze for big mountain again; 
Ninans keep away.” 

“ Well, truly,” said our hero, “ it is an ill wind 
that blows nobody good.” 

Their attention was now bent entirely on the 
burning ship. 

Though they had not yet reached the opening 
they were seeking through the ring of coral reef 
which encircled the island, they could see more 
plainly on the deck. 

On it a sudden commotion seemed to take 
place. They could see the crew and passengers 
had gathered in groups. 


THE BURNING SHIP. 109 

Abruptly in one crowd they rushed to the side, 
while faint shrieks could be heard, borne on the 
wind. 

“ Either something has happened,” cried our 
hero, as with Tahi he sent the boat through the 
opening they had at last found, “ or the sight of 
the bonfire has made them lose control. Good 
Heavens, what madness ! At such moments 
calmness and presence of mind are their only 
safety. See how they tear and hustle each other. 
What can it mean ? ” 

“ Crew lower boats,” said Tahi laconically. 

“ Yes, but if that insanely pushing, tearing 
crowd is not brought into obedience,” remarked 
our hero, “ everyone will be swamped. Why, 
there are women there! Oh, can the crew be 
men ? They cannot be Americans ! ” 

In his agitation our hero had bent his head far 
forward to watch the ill-fated ship. 

Just then the noise of a terrific explosion was 
heard. 

Vast sheets of flame rushed up with a deafening 
roar from the vessel apparently to the skies them- 
selves. 


no 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


A tremendous vivid glare dotted by masses of 
blazing fragments shone all around. 

Then in a moment all was darkness, and not a 
sign of the ship was to be seen. 

She had been blown to pieces ! 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE GIRL CASTAWAY. 

A fearful explosion had annihilated the burn- 
ing vessel. 

Our hero dropped back onto his seat with a cry 
of horror. 

The sudden confusion, that struggling, push- 
ing, shrieking crowd was now explained. 

There had been combustibles on board, and the 
fire had reached them. 

For a second George and the native sat stunned. 
Then the former cried out : 

“ Quick, Tahi, let us pull to the place. We 
may be able to rescue some of the poor people. If 
it's only one it will reward us.” 

The other instantly seized his paddle, our hero 
the oar, and swiftly they sent the boat toward the 
scene of devastation. 

“ Thank Heaven ! ” remarked George, as a soft, 


ui 


112 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


pale light began to shine on the horizon. “ The 
moon is rising. That will help us.” 

Reaching the spot where the unfortunate ship 
had foundered they found the waves strewn with 
charred, half-burnt masses of wood and other 
wreckage, but nowhere could they discern a ves- 
tige of humanity. 

Nevertheless for more than half an hour they 
rowed about. Then abandoning all hope, they 
prepared to pull back to the island. 

Just at the same instant the moon, rising, sent a 
long, silvery, quivering track across their very 
boat. 

Instinctively our hero’s eyes followed it, when 
he sprang to his feet, exclaiming : 

“ Look, Tahi, what is that yonder? ” 

He pointed to a small object in the moon’s 
track. 

It floated on the top of the waves, while a mass 
of something — could it be seaweed? — rose and fell 
with now and then a kind of glitter on the 
billows. 

“ Take oar, Misser George,” said Tahi. “ We 
go see. It’s a body.” 


the girl Castaway . 


ii3 

“ A body ? ” repeated our hero, with a shiver, 
as he obeyed the savage’s suggestion. 

As the tide made for the island, the object natu- 
rally moved toward them. 

Thus soon it was almost beneath their bow, 
whereupon our hero, shipping his oar, leaned 
eagerly over and extended his hand to prevent it 
drifting by. 

He drew back, however, with a startled cry, as 
his fingers became entangled among a quantity of 
long, silky, golden hair. 

The next instant the billows would have swept 
it by to the reefs had not Tahi grasped it and 
raised it in his strong arms. 

Our hero, again bending forward, beheld it was 
the graceful figure of a young and beautiful girl, 
who by some kind hand had been lashed to a 
grating. 

Over her pale cheek and snowy throat 
meandered her long, golden tresses, saturated by 
the briny ocean, which made her wet garments 
cling close to her slight figure. 

Her lips were slightly apart, and her eyes were 
closed. 


1 14 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

The sea water hung heavily upon her brow and 
cheeks. 

A sick, dizzy sensation came over our hero. 

“ Tahi, Tahi ! ” he cried eagerly, stretching his 
hands out to help the drowned maiden into the 
boat, “ don't say she is dead ! ” 

“ Tahi don’t know, but think not,” was the re- 
sponse. “ Where’s Misser George’s knife? ” 

Quickly, with trembling fingers, our her© pro- 
duced it, opened the blade, and began cutting at 
the lathings. 

What would a boy, especially a shipwrecked 
boy, do without his knife? 

Soon the girl was free from the grating. 

Tahi, gently lifting her in, held her at the bot- 
tom of the boat. 

How pretty and still she looked as the moon 
shone on her — how like death ! 

George’s pulses ceased to palpitate out of very 
fear; then, raising the fair head on his bosom, he 
placed his hand to her heart. 

“It beats, it beats, Tahi!” he cried joyfully. 
“ She lives. She is but insensible from wet and 
cold.” 


THE GIRL CASTAWAY. Ii$ 

“ Then, Misser George, we best get back to big 
bonfire. It may do good to her, though do no 
good to no one else. All kill, all drown.” 

“ Indeed, I fear so,” sighed the lad. 

Pulling off his jacket, which, by the way, like 
the rest of his attire, was getting very worn and 
ragged, he folded and placed it as a pillow for the 
young girl’s head, then, seizing the oar, they pro- 
ceeded through the now moonlit sea to the island. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


THE CASTAWAY'S STORY. 

The blowing up of the ship had been witnessed 
by Ned and Artie with even more concern than 
the two in the boat; for, at first, they imagined our 
hero and Tahi might have been swamped by frag- 
ments of the vessel which the explosion had sent 
into the air. 

When darkness settled over the waters their 
doubts were not allayed, for the boat was too far 
away to be distinguishable. 

Finally, however, the same track of moonlight 
which revealed the floating girl to George dis- 
closed his safety to his companions on shore. 

They perceived by the movement of those in 
the boat that they were busy about something, but 
what they could not tell. 

As they returned, the boys craned their necks 
over the headland. 


THE CASTAWAY'S STORY. 117 

“ There’s something lying at the bottom, Ned; 
I’m sure I can see it ! ” 

“ It’s a body,” cried Ned, “ and it’s a woman; 
I can see long, fair hair. Come to the beach.” 

“ First let’s put some more branches on the 
fire,” remarked Artie. “ They always try to 
make drowned people as warm as they can, don’t 
they? ” 

“ Yes, you’re right,” said Ned. 

This done, answering the shout of our hero, 
they sped down to the shore. 

As they reached it, Tahi had just run the boat 
aground, and, springing out into the water, was 
dragging it high up. 

“ What have you got ? Have you saved any- 
one, Tahi ? ” demanded Artie breathlessly. 

“ Tahi ’spect girl not drowned. Sleep — no 
speak.” 

“ Lend a hand here, Ned,” called our hero, fol- 
lowing the Indian’s example. 

All seizing the gunwale, they soon brought the 
boat high and dry on the sand. 

“ Why,” cried the two lads, Artie and Ned, as 
they leaned over the bows, “ it’s a girl ! ” 


Il 8 lost on volcano island . 

“ How pretty ! What lovely hair ! ” continued 
Artie admiringly. “ Oh, George, is she dead?” 

“I hope not,” said George; “I pray she will 
not die. We must take her to the fire at once.” 

Tahi indeed had already raised the graceful 
form of the girl in his strong arms, and, her head 
on his shoulders, her long golden hair falling over 
his dark skin, was striding swiftly to the bonfire 
on the headland. 

Here placing his burden within the full radius 
of its heat, he and the boys gathered intently 
around. 

The object of their solicitude was apparently 
between fourteen and fifteen. 

Her figure was slight and graceful, her com- 
plexion clear and fair, while her features were 
beautiful and marked with much refinement. 

Her attire was simple, but around her neck was 
a gold chain with a gem locket of great value. 

Many thoughts passed through our hero’s mind 
as he watched her whom he had rescued from the 
grave. 

What misery might await her when she recov- 
ered? 


THE CASTAWAY'S STORY. 


119 


The knowledge that perhaps the fire and the 
waves had robbed her of fond parents, leaving 
her alone, desolate. 

As he pondered he felt his heart yearn to the 
poor girl with a brother’s devoted love. 

Just then the ivory lids quivered. A second 
later they arose, revealing a pair of large, clear 
blue eyes beneath, which gazed wildly round, as 
one awakening from a fearful dream. 

Then, with a scream, the girl sat quickly up, 
and, covering her face, as if to shut out some ter- 
rible vision, cried : 

“ Oh, the fire — the fire ! Save me, save 
me!” 

“ Do not be frightened,” said our hero sooth- 
ingly kneeling by her. “ You are safe now ; noth- 
ing can harm you.” 

She lifted her eyes to his. 

There was that in George Blake’s frank, honest 
countenance that won instant confidence. 

The girl caught his hand in hers and exclaimed : 

“ Safe ! safe ! Am I ? Where am I ? Who 
are you ? ” 

“ You are on Volcano Island,” said George, 


120 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 


with a smile, “ and I, with my companions, have 
been wrecked like you.” 

“ You were not on the Golden Gate? ” she 
ejaculated. 

“ No, we were on the Columbia , which was 
wrecked on the reefs some weeks ago. We saw 
your ship on fire and went to see if we could help 
you, when it blew up.” 

And while the girl gazed in wonder, George 
told the story. 

Then the girl spoke of herself. She said that 
her name was Cora Winthrop and that her father 
was a rich merchant doing business in Pekin, 
China, and in Australia. 

In the care of a manservant, she had been sent 
form home to a young ladies’ seminary in San 
Francisco. 

When the ship had taken fire, the faithful serv- 
ant had first tried to put her in one of the boats, 
and, failing in this, had lashed her to a grating. 

Then the explosion had come, and what fol- 
lowed was a blank. 

Cora’s voice had broken much toward the con- 
clusion of her recital. 


THE CASTAWAY'S STORY. 


lai 


She was so affected that some of her words 
were hardly audible, and now with a sob she 
dropped back fainting on the grass. 

The refinement of her voice and manner, and 
her forlorn position, had already aroused the feel- 
ing of chivalry in her hearers that is ever present 
in a true American lad’s heart, and eagerly they 
strove to restore the poor girl, as if she had been 
a beloved sister. 

When at last Cora came to, she was so ex- 
hausted and weary that she could not sit up. 

Therefore the boys, each armed with a flaming 
torch, conducted her to their house. 

Her surprise at beholding it amused them im- 
mensely. 

“ Why,” she cried, “ you are like Robinson 
Crusoe ! ” 

“ Only we haven’t got a parrot yet,” said Artie. 

“ But we have a dog,” remarked our hero. 
“ Miss Winthrop, let me introduce Carlo to you. 
You will find him a true friend.” 

“ I believe it,” smiled Cora, putting her arms 
around his neck and patting his glossy head. • “ I 
love dogs.” 


122 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


“ As he will love you. To-night he will guard 
your door, and you need have no fear while he is 
on guard.” 

“ But you ? ” said the girl. “ Where will you 
sleep?” 

“ Don’t trouble about that,” laughed our hero; 
“ we shall do very well to-night, and to-morrow 
we must add a wing to our house to accommodate 
our new guest.” 

So saying, before she could demur, they stuck 
the torch in the earth, to give her light, and with- 
drew. 

By this time Tahi, who had been left to scatter 
the bonfire, had arrived with several flaming 
brands. 

With these they ignited another heap of dry 
wood, in a spot where it could not be seen from 
the sea. Then, lying down with their feet to it, 
as soldiers do when bivouacking, they thought of 
Cora Winthrop until they fell asleep. 


CHAPTER XX. 


THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT. 

It may be imagined that, though the castaways 
slept soundly, after the excitement of the night 
they were up early. 

They remembered they had a guest and that, 
the duties of hosts devolving upon them, they 
ought to make the island put on its best appear- 
ance. 

As if nature approved of their gallantry, the 
sun rose in a cloudless blue sky, while the air was 
soft and balmy. 

On the smooth green sward they spread a 
square piece of sail, blanched white by the sun as 
a tablecloth, upon which they placed some haff 
cocoanut shells, full of milk, with some breadfruit 
and other kinds of food which Tahi had gathered 
and prepared disposed on large green leaves. 

Hardly had they completed this really pretty- 


124 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


looking breakfast, when the door of the loghouse 
opened slowly, and with some timidity Cora came 
forth. 

If the boys had thought her beautiful when wet 
and weary the night before, they now thought she 
looked — as Artie whispered — like an angel. 

Her dress was nicely arranged, her countenance 
had been brightened and freshened by sleep, while 
her golden hair fell in a soft rippling cloud about 
her shoulders. 

“ Oh, how pretty ! ” she exclaimed in admira- 
tion, as she looked at the breakfast; “ this doesn’t 
look like a desert island.” 

“ No,” laughed our hero, for, despite Cora’s 
efforts, he saw she was sad and rather nervous at 
her position, and wished to put her at ease. “ It 
can’t be deserted, for we are getting quite a colony; 
and here we invite your majesty,” bowing low in 
serio-comic deference, “ to our morning banquet.” 

“ Yes, yes,” cried Artie, with delight, capering 
about; she shall be our queen ! ” 

And so all hands agreed, while Cora blushed 
deeply. 

During the day the boys looked for wreckage 


THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT. 125 

along the shore and also showed the girl casta- 
way around the island. 

At sunset they repaired to the lookout, but there 
was no sign of any ship. 

Here they talked until the stars came out and 
the Southern Cross shone brilliantly in the 
heavens. 

It was just at this moment that George hap- 
pened to turn his eyes toward the south part of 
the island. 

Starting, he caught Tahi’s arm, then, remem- 
bering Cora Winthrop, moved to a little distance, 
beckoning the Indian. 

“ What Massa George want? ” asked the latter. 

“Look, Tahi,” whispered our hero; “look to 
the south ; do you see that light ? I fancied I saw 
it yesternight, but it disappeared so quickly that I 
was uncertain. But now ” 

“ Fire,” said Tahi laconically. 

What attracted them was a small disk of dull 
light far distant. 

It seemed to waver, and then grow duller, then 
more bright, and finally, as our hero had said, it 
seemed to go suddenly out. 


126 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

“What do you think it is, Tahi?” he asked 
anxiously. “ Indians ? ” 

Tahi shook his head. 

“ Indians make big fire; fire burn bright and 
long time.” 

“ True. Can it be a burning mountain on some 
other island?” 

“ Tahi no know, but think not.” 

“ What can it be, then ? It is most mysterious. 
Certainly it’s a fire, and if it’s not a burning moun- 
tain or a phenomenon, who can light it ? ” 

The Indian shook his head. 

“ Fll tell you what, Tahi,” proceeded George. 
“ I fancy danger threatens; it’s best that we should 
know it and be prepared.” 

“ Yes, Tahi think so too.” 

“ Then let you and I, without, you know, 
frightening Miss Cora, start off to-morrow and 
reconnoiter the south of the island.” 

Tahi agreed. 

“ What are you two plotting out there? ” cried 
Ned at this moment. 

“Taking an astronomical observation,” laughed 
our hero, walking back. 


THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT \ 


127 


But that night, after the girl castaway had re- 
tired, George told his companions about the mys- 
terious light, and how he and Tahi intended to 
explore the island further the next day. 

“ That’s a capital idea,” said Ned, with won- 
derful readiness, considering it was our hero’s 
suggestion. 

“ Do you take Carlo ? ” asked Artie, as finally 
they lay down. 

“ No.” 

The dog was to be left, for fear he might bark. 

Then silence reigned. 

But George, for long, could not sleep, because 
of thinking of the mysterious light and who could 
have lit it. 

It was almost noon when our hero and Tahi 
started the next day. 

The point they first made for was the burning 
mountain. 

George had a great wish to see a volcano close 
at hand, as he had heard of people visiting Vesu- 
vius and Kilauea on the Hawaiian Islands and 
looking in the craters. 

He felt there could be no danger, for it was not 


128 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


likely another eruption would take place so soon, 
though a perpetual, almost imperceptible, quiver- 
ing vapor was ever hanging over it. 

They soon found that it was further off than 
they imagined, and the vegetation, as they pene- 
trated into the interior, increased in growth and 
thickness. 

They met no animals save a few hogs, but 
birds, small pigeons, and some parrots flew about 
the trees, the latter screaming horribly. The 
sweet notes of our beautiful American songsters 
were wanting. 

Nevertheless our hero and the savage, being 
swift of foot, reached the crest of an incline three 
hours after they had started. 

The bed of the valley inclined right and left to 
the shore, so that the lava streams had evidently 
flowed into the sea. 

On descending into the valley George found he 
was right, for the bed was composed of rugged 
masses of once molten rock now cooled. 

Crossing this, they began to ascend the volcano 
itself. The task was difficult, while before they 
had proceeded far they found the ground to be in- 






ill! 




•■uiir.iimii" *j 


'[Muiim.mw 


! I| 'll iHlilm 

HI I 1 ill 
mmm 




■•'■••I 




•iniimiiliiiii"!! 


THERE CAME A SUDDEN SHOWER OF HOT ASHES. r . 129# 









THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT. 


2 $ 


tensely hot. Then there came a sudden shower 
of hot ashes, and they had to run through the 
jungle with all speed. 

Reaching the base of the hill they sat down to 
rest, while the savage bound some cool green 
leaves about his scorched feet. 

Then they arose, for in little more than an hour 
it would be dark. 

Proceeding round the base of the volcano, they 
found that the opposite side was formed like the 
first, as if the mountain had forced its way up the 
center of a valley, or rather, George fancied, 
between two neighboring islands, connecting 
them in time by the accumulation of its lava 
streams. 

Climbing the other side, on the top they were 
met by a forest of underwood and trees, through 
which, with difficulty, they forced their way. 

They did so, however, cautiously, for they felt 
they must be approaching the place where had ap- 
peared the mysterious light. 

If it had been kindled by hostile Indians, each 
step they took might expose them to view and 
capture. 


1 30 LOST ON- VOLCANO ISLAND. 

Suddenly our hero caught his companion’s arm, 
arresting him. 

The native turned, and then bent his eyes in the 
direction George was pointing. 

“ Look, yonder, Tahi,” whispered the latter. 
“ What’s that? ” 

The Indian gazed in silence. 

“ Don’t risk going forward yet,” continued our 
hero. “ Let’s reconnoiter. It’s alive, for I saw 
it move. See, see ! ” 

They noiselessly crouched down behind the 
bushes, but so that they could keep watch on the 
singular object which had attracted their atten- 
tion. 


CHAPTER XXL 

THE GORILLA. 

“What is it, Tahi?” whispered George, as 
the beast loomed up in the darkness ahead. 

“ Can’t say — wait,” replied the native. 

It was, as well as they could judge from its 
position, the darkness, and the intervening bushes, 
a quadruped. 

Its form, which was bulky, was dark and 
rugged. On its head appeared layers of dull, 
greenish loose skin, from under which they could 
just see, when it raised it, long masses of appar- 
ently tangled hair that extended on to its chest. 

It was seemingly rooting at the foot of a large 
tree — probably for roots — behind the bushes. 

Every now and then it emitted a sudden expul- 
sion of breath, which made George think of 
gorillas. 

Suddenly, with a grunting sound like “ urgh- 


131 


i3 2 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


urgh-urgh,” it turned, and appeared coming in 
their direction. 

Tahi rose quickly, and poised his spear in readi- 
ness. 

The hideous-looking bulk, however, had evi- 
dently heard the movement and seen the enemy. 

Instead of making an attack with a louder 
“ urgh,” it turned and dived among the bushes as 
if to fly. 

When an enemy flies, even cowards will become 
pursuers. 

Tahi and George were brave enough, and at 
once started in pursuit, the Indian casting his 
spear. 

A roar of pain followed. 

“ Tahi,” whispered our hero, “ did you ever 
hear so human a cry? It must be a gorilla, a 
monstrous ape. See, see ! ” 

As he spoke they beheld the animal, seizing a 
branch, swing itself into one tree, from which it 
seemed to fly to another. 

As it did so they could just perceive that its 
hind legs and part of the body were covered, like 
its head, with loose flapping skin. 


THE GORILLA . 


133 


In a second it had disappeared. 

“ Tahi,” said George, “ we can never follow 
the thing through this dense bush, and it has 
sought concealment in the thicket. We are but 
losing time.” 

The Indian paused. 

“ Besides,” proceeded the boy, “ if we drive it 
to desperation it may turn upon us with others. 
Then what are we to do, having no weapons? ” 

“ Misser George is right,” replied Tahi. “ Let 
us go on. Hope monster not come back and at- 
tack us.” 

Owing to this possibility they kept a cautious 
lookout, but nothing occurred. 

On reaching the boundary of the bush they 
found themselves at the end of the island, that is 
to say, on the seashore. 

Deeming it best not to be seen, they did not 
leave the cover of the trees, but made their inspec- 
tion from where they were. 

The sea came within a few yards of them, while 
across a small channel, not more than a hundred 
yards broad, rose a tiny island, covered with trees, 
like those in rivers. 


134 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 


Evidently some earthquake or other convulsion 
of nature had separated it from the mainland, or it 
was a coral island in process of formation. 

The hour was now rather past that at which the 
mysterious light had on the two consecutive nights 
appeared, but there was no sign. 

They waited another half-hour, Tahi even ven- 
turing out on the shore to look round, but saw 
nothing. 

“ Now,” said our hero, “ shall we camp out 
here, or make our way back, at least to the vol- 
cano, which, I hope, is a boundary line between 
our part of the island and that monster? ” 

They decided to remain where they were, and 
soon both were sleeping soundly. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


A SEARCH FOR EGGS. 

Early in the morning George and Tahi set out 
for home, keeping a sharp watch for the gorilla as 
they proceeded. 

It wanted three hours to noon yet when they 
came in view of Hope Bay, and a little while later 
they sighted the house. 

“ I say, Tahi,” exclaimed our hero, as he beheld 
it; “ what’s that on the roof? ” 

The Indian, who carried over his shoulder a 
young pig he had succeeded in killing, con- 
templated the object attentively. 

Then he said briefly : 

“ Flag!” 

“ A flag ! Why, where on earth could they have 
got it? I suppose from the wreck, though I saw 
no bunting among it. Let us get nearer.” 

They quickened their pace, when our hero, who 


136 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

had been peering eagerly at the staff, cried almost 
with a shout : 

“ Why, Tahi, it’s the Stars and Stripes itself ! 
Hurrah for Uncle Sam ! Where could they have 
got it?” 

“ Not wise to leave it there,” remarked the In- 
dian quietly. “ Ninans come — see it.” 

“ True. Yet how it cheers an American heart 
to look upon it ! ” 

They had been hastening on; and now heard a 
low whining sound coming from the house under 
the door, followed by a loud snuffing. 

“ It’s good old Carlo ! ” exclaimed George, run- 
ning forward. “ He recognizes us.” 

Quieting the animal, whom he could hear 
bounding inside, with his voice, he knocked on the 
door. 

In a short space they were inside, our hero hav- 
ing much to do to control Carlo’s exuberant de- 
light. 

Though they were nearly dropping to sleep 
from fatigue they gave a brief account of their 
journey, and asked what had occurred during 
their absence. 


A SEARCH FOR EGGS. 


137 


Ned said they had seen several canoes in the 
distance, and this created instant alarm; and Tahi 
proposed going to the headland to see if the 
Ninans had really visited the island and were 
then upon it. 

Noiselessly they let him out, and during the 
time he was away George learned that Cora had 
made the flag and got the others to hoist it over 
the house. 

“ I tell you what,” he said; “ we must give a 
banquet to inaugurate the national flag, and in 
honor of our queen.” 

“A banquet?” remarked Ned. “I suppose 
it will be breakfast, dinner, and tea repeated. A 
monotonous series of dittoes.” 

“ Not at all. Tahi has brought home a pig, 
part of which we can roast; we have yams and 
bananas. Cora can make us some cakes with the 
flour and milk, while I am sure I know where we 
can get nests of wildfowl.” 

“ Where are these nests ? ” inquired Artie. 

“ You know those steep rugged rocks just be- 
yond this bay ? ” 

“ Yes.” 


138 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

“ Well, when watching the wildfowl, the terns, 
and those lovely tropical birds, I see they go 
chiefly there to roost, while during the day they 
frequently hover over it, making peculiar cries 
like the male bird to its mate! ” 

“But you can’t climb up the rocks?” said 
Ned. 

“ No, but some shrubs and trees grow on the 
top, and I could lower myself by a rope.” 

“It’s awfully dangerous!” murmured Artie. 

“ Not to a sailor, if the rope’s strong. And 
think, if we could make a poultry yard here and 
get fresh eggs for puddings and Cora’s break- 
fast!” 

Artie, who fully appreciated the good things of 
this world, was about to clap his hands, but our 
hero checked him in time, whispering : 

“ Hush, you’ll wake the queen;” for Cora was 
still sleeping. 

At that moment Tahi returned. He had seen 
nothing. 

Consoled by this news, they lay down and soon 
were wrapped in sleep. 

The next day, there being nothing particular 


A SEARCH FOR EGGS. 


*39 


doing, George, remembering the wildfowl, de- 
termined to get away to the rocks. 

He thought to bring Cora home a nest of soft, 
fluffy little birds would be a return surprise for 
the flag. 

Therefore, while they were all engaged down 
on the beach, he selected a strong piece of rope 
from among the wreckage, coiled it up, and set 
out, as he fancied, unperceived. 

The spot to which he was bent was a small 
stretch of precipitous rocks. 

Formed in a shallow circle, they inclosed a tiny 
bay of yellow sand inaccessible by land. 

Cresting these cliffs were both shrubs and small 
trees which, with that vital power of tropical vege- 
tation to take root on the slightest amount of soil, 
for some feet down jutted from many a ledge and 
crevice. 

Further beneath, the surface presented a quan- 
tity of the projections, caves, and holes wherein 
seabirds delight to build their nests. 

Here George’s observation had told him he 
should very probably find the latter with young 
birds in them. 


140 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


Leaning over, by means of lying down flat and 
grasping the bushes, he saw that his surmise was 
correct. 

He could perceive several nests, but so craftily 
concealed by their cunning builders that it was 
impossible to see them from shore. 

Examining the rope, he found it strong and of 
sufficient length to allow of his placing a knot here 
and there. 

Then he secured it firmly to a tree, which, as far 
as he could judge, was securely planted in the 
earth. 

After that he took the rope in his hands and 
began rapidly to descend, sailor-fashion. 

Five minutes passed. 

“ Tahi! Ned! Artie!” 

It was a cry for help from George Blake, for 
the roots of the tree to which the rope was fas- 
tened were giving way. 

“ Help! help!” 

No one heard his appeal. 

When George uttered that cry of horror on find- 
ing that either the tree or the rope had given way, 
for the moment he knew not which, he was near 


A SEARCH FOR EGGS. 


141 

enough to the ledge, whereon was the nest he had 
descended for, to catch it with one hand. 

Thus for a second he hung until he could grasp 
it with the other, while the rope and tree went 
whirling past, in such close .proximity that they 
nearly hurled him from his place. 

That they had not done so seemed but a brief 
reprieve from a fate which our hero believed to 
be inevitable. 

His position, in fact, was most perilous. 

Above was about some twenty feet of rock, 
which, owing to its slightly overhanging the base, 
made it impossible to climb, while beneath, ex- 
tended nearly fifty feet of, to George’s first glance, 
clear perpendicular cliff. 

Well for him that he had been accustomed to 
look out from the masthead, or that downward 
glance at the waves dashing beneath would have 
upset his brain, causing him to let go his grip. 

As it was his head felt giddy, his heart sick. 

Whatever was he to do ? 

To shout for help again would be useless. 

All the others were at Hope Bay, or he believed 
so, far beyond hearing, even if the sea birds, 


142 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


scared at sight of him, had not filled the air with 
their own wild, discordant screams. 

Could he raise himself on the ledge? 

Impossible. 

It was but the merest projection, sufficient to 
support and protect the nest, out of which the 
heads of the young birds were craning, while they 
screamed, as if in derision of his peril. 

“ Certainly the victory is on your side,” thought 
George. “ Merciful Heavens, aid me ! What 
must I do ? ” 

Again he looked beneath. 

A fall must mean death, he thought. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. 

Never had George Blake been in such a peril- 
ous position as the present one. 

In a little while he must let go. 

Again he looked down, this time on the sea side, 
and his heart gave a great leap of joy. 

Within six feet of him there was a larger ledge, 
and from it grew a stout, small shrub. 

Our hero knew the kind well, and that it 
gripped into the crevices of the rock with the 
tenacity of steel. 

Could he but reach it, it would give him a better 
hold. 

Yet, after all, was it not but delaying his death ? 
But George, with a brave effort, banished the idea. 

“ Nothing risk, nothing win,” he thought. 
“ But how can I get to it ? ” 

There was but one way, and that was by drop- 
ping. 


*43 


144 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


Our hero drew a long breath, prepared him- 
self for the violent jerk he might get if he suc- 
ceeded, told himself he mustn’t be nervous, but 
calm and steady, and commended his life into the 
hands of Heaven, and then — jumped. 

George could never explain how he felt at that 
moment; only that every incident of his life 
seemed to sweep before his mental vision, and that 
an intense joy was beating at his heart, as he sud- 
denly found his hands gripping tight on the sturdy 
little bush. 

Taking as much rest as he could afford, our 
hero once more examined the rock’s surface. 

Lower again was another bush, almost a tuft, 
yet he did not hesitate. 

Again he succeeded, and now the task appeared 
to grow easier. 

There were some ledges by which he could 
lower himself some few feet. 

Now he was within thirty feet of the beach. 

His heart beat high ; Heaven had, as it seemed, 
taken him into its keeping, and after all he was 
not to die. 

He was not out of the wood yet, however. 


BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. 145 

There were no more bushes; but there was a 
ledge of above two feet broad that projected in 
front of a small cave. 

The leap here was not as great, but it was far 
more difficult. 

“ Never mind,” thought George. “ Here 
goes.” 

He oscillated his body gently until he could take 
a spring. 

Then, letting go the bush, he felt his feet strike 
the ledge; there was a sensation as if he had been 
thrust by the rock itself, and he knew he was 
tumbling through the air — that he had missed his 
footing — that the end had come at last. 

The earth seemed to come up against him with 
an awful violence; he felt an acute sensation of 
pain everywhere, and then all was oblivion. 

How long he remained thus he did not know. 

It must have been for hours, for when he opened 
his eyes daylight had gone and the moon was 
shining calmly above him. 

He did not attempt to move. Every limb was 
helpless with acute pain — pain that forced the 
tears to his eyes and sickened his heart. 


146 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

Sooner than move and suffer the excruciating 
agony he was aware must follow, he felt he would 
rather die. 

As consciousness had come back, it seemed that 
voices had been in his ears. 

He must have been dreaming of home — the 
home he should never see again. 

Yet there was a sound, and he tried to call his 
stunned senses together to listen. 

There was a creeping, rustling sound over the 
shore and about him, and he guessed that some 
kind of Crustacea, of crab or lobster kind, were 
approaching him. 

He heard them come nearer, nearer. 

Had they crawled over him he could not have 
prevented them; but instead they seemed scut- 
thing all in one direction, the rocks. 

There was another sound he knew well — the 
coming in of the tide. 

A cold shiver ran through him, for he was 
aware he lay within its reach. 

He made one effort to move and a scream, 
forced by pain, burst from his lips. 

Then resignation settled on him, and, quietly 


BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. 


147 


listening to the approaching waves, he awaited 
death. He had no fear; on the contrary, he felt a 
strange, calm happiness as he lay gazing up at the 
stars. 

Slowly but surely the waves, meanwhile break- 
ing with a monotonous tone on the shore, ad- 
vanced. Onward, onward; rolling back, only to 
rush further next time onto the beach. 

“ It cannot be long now/’ thought our hero. 

No, not long; the billows now touched his feet 
— now surged up round him — now lifted him in 
their strong, briny arms. 

Their first touch had refreshed him; but now 
a terrible pain seized every joint, and he fainted. 

Just as he lost consciousness, a voice uttering 
his name broke the stillness. 

But there came no answer. 

The poor boy being borne out to sea had not 
heard it. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE SHARK. 

As hour after hour went by and our hero did 
not return, alarm began to dawn in the hearts of 
those left behind. 

Cora’s anxiety was almost more than she could 
conceal. 

Finally, seeing the savage leaving off his work 
to gaze around, she cried, starting up : 

“Oh, Tahi! You, too, are anxious about 
George. I read it in your face. Do not deny it. 
Something must have happened to him. Please 
go in search.” 

“ Tahi go,” answered the Indian, rising. 
“ Misser George brave, but should not go so far 
without Tahi.” 

And the native’s mind reverted to the hideous 
monster they had seen at the south of the island. 

“JVe will all go!” cried Cora, then clasping 

148 


THE SHARK . 


*49 


her hands. “ Oh, dear Tahi, let me try to find 
him, too ! ” 

“ And I, also,” ejaculated Artie. 

Tahi, who liked our hero the best of any, made 
no demur, only he bade the two keep together and 
not go far. 

Then, taking his spear, he set off. 

Ned remained at the house. 

Cora ran to each high part of ground and 
called. 

Artie dived into the valleys; but all was silent. 

“ Ah, he is dead ! He must be dead ! ” said the 
girl castaway, as she burst into tears. 

Artie’s fears misgave him, but he tried to cheer 
her. 

“ Don’t cry ! ” he exclaimed, his own young 
voice tremulous. “ No, no; he isn’t dead! Tahi 
will find him.” 

The night had now set in, and Ned had crawled 
out from the house — haggard, pale, and weak. 

Presently Tahi was observed advancing, alone, 
toward them, and Cora ran to meet him. 

“ Tahi, dear Tahi!” she cried. “ Have you 


found him? ” 


150 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


The savage slightly shook his head, and then 
dropped it despairingly on his chest. 

The girl threw herself on the grass, averted 
her face, and burst into tears. 

She felt that George was as dear to her as a 
brother, and he was dead. 

Suddenly she leaped to her feet, her beautiful 
face animated by hope. 

“ I have it ! I have it ! ” she cried. “ Oh, why 
were we so stupid as not to think of it before ? ” 

“ Have what? ” asked Artie. 

“ The way to find George,’' she answered, as 
fleet of foot she ran into the house. 

In a moment she returned with an old jacket of 
our hero’s. 

Going to Carlo she showed it to him. 

“ Dear Carlo,” she said excitedly, “ we have 
lost your master. Find him. Search, good dog, 
search.” 

The sagacious animal seemed instantly to 
divine her meaning. 

He sniffed the garment, then he bounded in 
front of the girl, emitting sharp, interrogative 
barks. 


THE SHARK. 


* 5 * 

“ Yes, yes,” she answered, pointing up the path 
our hero must have gone. “ Search, Carlo, 
search.” 

Now he fully understood her. 

He darted up the path, his nose to the ground, 
and whining in a low, inquiring key. 

Then he darted back, running free here and 
there. 

Anxiously the four watched him, for now Ned 
was as interested as the others. 

Suddenly Carlo threw up his head, and gave a 
short, sharp bark. 

Then he started at a swinging trot up the 
path. 

“ He is on the track! ” cried Cora in delight; 
and all followed. 

Yes, he was on the track, and he never swerved, 
for neither had poor George. 

Onward he went, they after, until he neared the 
top of the rocks, when Artie uttered a loud cry. 

“ I know where he is now. Oh, why did not I 
remember it before? ” he ejaculated. “ Oh, he is 
dead; I’m sure he’s tumbled over the cliffs.” 

“ What do you mean, Artie? ” said the girl, 


152 LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 

“ That George wanted to surprise you with a 
present of a nest of seabirds. The nests are in 
these rocks, and I’m certain he must have been 
trying for them and fallen over.” 

There was little doubt of it, for the dog had 
by this time reached the edge and was barking 
furiously. 

Tahi motioned the others to advance cau- 
tiously; but he strode on himself. 

His keen, rapid glance speedily descried the 
broken ground from which the tree had been torn, 
and that revealed to him the truth. 

Lying down flat he drew himself to the edge 
and looked over. 

The bay was full of calm moonlight, and he 
saw the form of our hero extended motionless on 
the sands beneath. 

A shudder ran through the savage’s frame; 
but, though he feared the worst, he said : 

“ He is there. Call. See if Misser George will 
answer. Misser George fainted p’r’aps, or asleep.” 

They all called aloud, even Ned, though his 
voice shook. 

No reply. 


THE SHARK. 


153 


“ He fainted,” remarked the Indian, rising. 

“ Oh, Tahi,” said Cora, “ don’t say he’s dead ! ” 

“ Tahi not know. Tahi see. Fetch him. 
Tide coming fast. Get boat.” 

At their topmost speed they retraced their steps 
to Hope Bay and launched the boat. 

Cora prayed to accompany them, and got in 
with Carlo. 

Ned, as the strongest, took one of the oars. 

Swiftly the boat bounded over the waters; 
headland after headland was rounded, until the 
last was gained. 

There was the spot where Tahi had seen our 
hero; but the waves were flowing over it, and he 
was gone. 

The native tried to shoot the boat in, but even 
it drew too much water to escape the rocks. 

Before the tide would be high enough our hero 
would be drowned. 

Eagerly Cora was gazing into the waters, when 
suddenly she cried : 

“ Ah ! what is that dark object the waves first 
roll on the shore, then sweep back ? It is he, it is 
he ! Save him* Carlo ! ” 


154 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


But hardly had the dog plunged in than Tahi 
was by the animal’s side. 

Beyond the narrow fringe of reef was deep, 
very deep water, and once in that, our hero would 
inevitably sink beyond recovery. 

As yet, however, he could be seen, and a race 
began between man and dog. 

They were within a yard when our hero, rolled 
back by a wave, disappeared. 

Instinctively man and dog dived, and Carlo 
caught the jacket collar. 

Then the Indian’s strong arms encircled the 
lad’s body, and together they raised him and 
struck out for the boat. 

Suddenly Artie uttered a shriek. 

“ The shark ! the shark ! ” he shouted. 

Yes; there was the cold, dark snout, indeed, 
of one of those ferocious sea monsters, dashing 
swift as light toward the pair. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


A BRAVE RESCUE. 

It looked as if the shark must seize George. 

Quick, quick, brave swimmers! or your noble 
effort will be paid for by your lives ! 

Why, what were they doing? Tahi had stopped 
still, and was not only not swimming, but had 
checked the dog. 

In a few seconds now the monster would be 
near enough to turn to make its fearful bite. 

Now Carlo was panting along alone with his 
burden, and Tahi had disappeared. 

Had the shark seized him? No; it was coming 
on swifter after the dog. 

Cora shrieked, but could not avert her eyes, and 
then abruptly the shark stopped, dashed the water 
furiously with its tail, and seemed to dive. 

It was about to seize its prey, but no ! It rose 
again to the surface, but belly upward, in which 
was a deep gash ! 


i5S 


*$6 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

It was motionless. It was dead ! 

The instant after, Tahi reappeared beside our 
hero and the dog. 

They soon reached the boat, and quietly 
placed George, who was groaning faintly, 
in it. 

Cora, sitting down, took his head on her lap. 

“ He is saved, thank Heaven ! ” she said, “ but 
the shark? ” 

“ Tahi get out Misser George’s knife; Tahi 
dive down beneath the shark and kill him,” said 
the savage quietly, as he bent to the oar. “ Tahi’s 
tribe hunt sharks.” 

George was still unconscious. 

Quickly they rowed back to Hope Bay, and, 
lifting out our hero, carried him to the house. 
Gently as they did it, he moaned with pain, and 
Cora could not restrain her tears. 

“ Oh, that I could do something to help him ! ” 
she sobbed. 

“ You nurse Misser George,” remarked Tahi 
kindly. “ You find herbs — do Misser George 
good.” 

He showed her a specimen, and she, with Artie, 


A BRAVE RESCUE. 


157 


at once set out, for it was as light as day, owing 
to the moon. 

While they were gone the Indian examined our 
hero. He soon found that George was terribly 
bruised, but, fortunately, no bones were broken. 

Tahi was a doctor in his way, so he was not 
quite at a loss. He lubricated our hero’s limbs 
with a kind of oil he knew how to extract from 
certain trees, and which apparently gave the 
patient instant relief. 

Then in one of his clay pots he managed to 
boil down the herbs the girl castaway and Artie 
brought, the decoction from which he made our 
hero swallow. 

The grimace of the lad showed that it was un- 
commonly nasty, but it is not always nice things 
that are best. In less than half an hour George 
was asleep. 

The girl would not leave him until they had to 
separate for the night. 

The next morning when our hero awoke he was 
conscious, but in excruciating pain. 

In a faint voice he told them every particular of 
his accident. 


158 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

“And you suffered all this because of me?” 
said Cora, bending over him, the tears brightening 
her eyes. 

“ That was the sole idea that gave me the 
strength to endure,” he smiled. 

“ Cora and Carlo found you,” broke in Artie. 
“ We had hunted I don’t know for how long, 
when she showed Carlo your old jacket and bid 
him search. Cora knows everything, for the dog 
obeyed at once, and took us to the top of the rocks, 
when Tahi saw you at the bottom.” 

Artie proceeded to tell also about the shark. 

“ Then it seems,” smiled our hero, “ I owe my 
life to all of you.” 

“ We have but paid a debt,” said Cora. “ Have 
we not all before owed our lives to you? ” 

“ That’s true ! ” cried Artie. “ How funny ! 
Even Carlo.” 

Tahi now interposed. George must lie still and 
not talk. 

He gave his patient another dose, at which our 
hero made more wry faces than before, and then 
went out with the two boys, leaving Cora and 
Carlo as nurses. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


THE SAVAGES AGAIN. 

It was nearly a week before George felt even 
half well. During this time Tahi showed how to 
obtain eggs by gathering in whole nests with a 
net made of thorns. He also captured several pigs 
and other wild animals. 

When George felt well enough the entire party 
resolved to have a feast in his honor, and also- in 
honor of the flag their girl companion had made. 

It was decided to dine a little after noon, so 
after breakfast all were engaged in cooking. 

By the use of Tahi’s clay pots, they were able 
to have boiled fish, yams, taros, bananas, and 
plantains; the fowls and the pork were roasted. 

All had their duties assigned them, and with 
much merriment they set to work. 

Tahi took upon himself to make a delicious 
pudding of cocoanut juice, poured over bananas 
and baked. 

159 


160 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

Soon on the balmy air arose the delicate odor 
of poultry, overcome by the stronger one of crack- 
ling. 

“ Oh, I say/’ ejaculated Artie, stopping short; 
“ where is the sage and onion ? ” 

“ Where the little boat was — all at sea,” 
laughed our hero ; “ we must eat our feast with- 
out sage and onion. Get out, old man; those 
yams will boil themselves to death.” 

“ Oh, please do someone come and help me ! ” 
ejaculated Cora, hanging over another pot. “ I 
am sure the fish is breaking. If it comes out in 
bits, what a cook I shall prove.” 

Tahi, who had just returned from gathering 
some fresh breadfruit, came to the rescue. 

The native looked rather contemptuously at 
the fish. 

“ Ah, Tahi ought to have kept shark,” he said 
regretfully; “ Tahi stupid, shark good.” 

“ Shark good ! ” cried our hero. “ Good 
gracious, Tahi, you don’t eat shark? ” 

“ Tahi does; shark good. Why not? ” 

At length all was ready for dinner. Under the 
shady palms they manufactured a table, and set 


THE SAVAGES AGAIN. 161 

out their first course, Cora making the whole gay 
with flowers. 

Their dishes and plates were all of a similar 
pattern — the broad leaves of the breadfruit 
tree. 

Rarely was there a merrier party. 

Healths were drunk, first to the queen of the 
island, then to Tahi — to the loved ones at home — 
to each other — to the Stars and Stripes floating 
over their house — lastly, to Carlo, who looked up 
from his pork bones to bark his thanks. 

Then Tahi, making a sign to Ned, the two re- 
tired. 

“ Where are they going? ” asked Cora. 

“Don’t let us be curious,” laughed our hero; 
“ perhaps they have improvised another course to 
surprise us.” 

George knew very well what they had gone for, 
a handsome chaplet made of beautiful-hued shells 
for the queen. 

To keep her attention occupied, our hero and 
Artie kept talking, the only other sound being the 
crunch of Carlo’s strong teeth. 

None there dreamed at that moment of danger, 


162 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


more than if they had been seated in some pleasant 
country spot at home in America. 

Suddenly Cora, laughing at some remark of 
Artie’s, happened to raise her eyes, and with a 
wild, frightened scream she sprang to her feet, 
her eyes dilated, and her cheeks pale with horror. 

“Look, look! ” she shrieked; “ the savages! ” 

The boys turned in the direction of her gaze, 
and their hearts sank. 

The lookout was lined with savages. There 
they stood, in their war paint and feathers, armed 
with their terrrible shark spears, and staring down 
with evident amazement at the peaceful scene be- 
fore them. 

No sooner, however, did they find themselvee 
discovered than, uttering their war-whoop and 
brandishing their arms, they came rushing down 
the hill upon the three. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


CORA A PRISONER. 

On seeing the savages our hero leaped to his 
feet, his heart sick with fear for his girl com- 
panion. 

The idea of her, so pretty, so delicate, in the 
hands of the fierce savages, maddened him, and, 
while Artie fled to the shore, calling upon Tahi, 
our hero threw himself before the young girl, 
alone facing the horde of Indians, if such the can- 
nibals may be called. 

That he possibly could for a moment stay that 
rush was absurd. 

The bold aspect of the dauntless boy, with 
Carlo by his side, displaying his white teeth, 
caused the savages to pause a second. 

But the chief’s eye had again rested upon Cora, 
who had fled back to the bush, and, raising the 
war-whoop, he again sprang forward. 

Cora saw by his eyes that he intended to cap- 

163 


164 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


ture her, and with a wild cry she turned and 
dashed into the bush. 

“ Carlo at him ! Seize him ! ” cried George, and 
in a second the dog with a bound was at the chief’s 
throat. 

So violent and unexpected was the assault that 
the savage fell, letting go his spear; and, darting 
forward, our hero seized it. 

Before, however, he could use it, the savages 
rushed on him. 

He saw the chief rise, and with some others 
proceed swiftly in the track of Cora. 

He could do nothing more now, as they were 
separated, and he retreated quickly toward the 
shore. 

The natives advanced after him, raising their 
spears, and then our hero saw them come to an 
abrupt halt, uttering a guttural cry. 

Their eyes were directed seaward, and George, 
looking over his shoulder, saw some half-dozen 
canoes, crowded with Indians, shooting around 
the headland. 

Then, again, those on land came on, howling, 
yelling, and soon surrounding him. 


CORA A PRISONER. 


165 

George felt a blow, or stab, on the shoulder, 
which felled him to the ground, and then he re- 
membered no more. 

Meanwhile, blinded with terror, the girl fled on, 
she knew not in what direction. 

She was only conscious that she must escape. 

This was not easy, though the thought of the 
glaring eyes of her pursuers, and their hideous 
tattooed bodies bedaubed with war paint, lent her 
wings. 

Though keeping to the bushes for concealment, 
Cora intuitively selected the thinnest portions as 
being easier to traverse. Her feet carried her 
mechanically, for her brain was in a whirl. She 
seemed not to hear anything but the steps of her 
pursuers. They were gaining upon her fast, and 
though she was conscious of their separating, one 
kept continually on her track. 

Suddenly a pig ran across her path, throwing 
her down, but she rose to her feet in a second and 
continued her way. 

The pig, scuttling away in a different direction, 
had, for a time, put the Indians off the scent, and 
the poor child's heart beat with hope. 


1 66 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


It proved but transient. 

With a guttural yell the savage had discovered 
his mistake, and was again on her track. 

The girl ventured one glance behind her, and 
through the bushes she beheld the dark face of the 
savage, as he, too, beheld her, his eyes glaring 
with triumph, his long arm extended. 

She strove to run, but her trembling limbs re- 
fused to support her, and she fell helplessly onto 
her knees. 

“ Mercy ! ” she cried, her small hands piteously 
clasped, her blue eyes uplifted, her hair falling 
like a golden veil around her pretty girlish 
figure. 

With one bound the native was beside her. 

His dark fingers were in her hair; and, grasp- 
ing it, he manipulated it with a low chuckle of 
wondering, savage delight. 

Then he flung his long arms around her and 
lifted her from the ground. 

“ Mercy! ” she cried; “ mercy! ” 

She might as well have appealed for mercy 
from the wild boar. 

“ Oh, Heaven, help me ! ” she ejaculated, as the 


CORA A PRISONER, 167 

savage, clutching her tightly, began retracing his 
steps. 

Then, gathering all her strength, she struck the 
savage in the face with her hands. 

She had read much of these savages, and would 
rather have him kill her than carry her away to 
his tribe. 

The savage, infuriated, dashing her to the 
ground, raised his club, the head of which was 
somewhat like the beak of a bird. 

The girl, pale as death, closed her eyes, com- 
mended her soul to Heaven, and waited the 
blow. 

The savage swung round the club. 

Then it descended swiftly toward the pretty 
girlish head. 

Cora shuddered as she heard it whiz through 
the air. Her last hour seemed to have come. 

The club fell with a dull thud, but upon the 
earth, not upon Cora. 

A violent blow from a thick branch of a tree, 
brandished by a hideous-looking object which 
had suddenly sprung into view, had sent the 
savage reeling back stunned among the ferns. 


i68 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


The creature then, rapidly stooping, caught the 
girl in its arms and darted away. 

Cora, bewildered, opened her eyes. No sooner 
did her gaze rest upon her new captor than with a 
shriek of horror she fainted. 

She was brought to by a sensation of being 
plunged into cold water. 

Where was she — drowning? 

No. The creature still held her, and was swim- 
ming quickly away from the island; and the girl, 
recollecting the shark, again lost consciousness. 

The poor girl was in the power of the gorilla 
seen by our hero and Tahi. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


AMONG THE ENEMY. 

When our hero recovered consciousness he 
was aware of an awful yelling, and that a lot of 
persons were regardlessly trampling him beneath 
their feet. 

Recalling his senses as well as he could, he 
recollected what had happened — that the savages 
were upon him. 

His first idea was to spring to his feet. 

His second not only told him that discretion 
was the better part of valor, but that it was im- 
possible for him to rise. 

His right arm had been stunned by the blow he 
had received, while the breath had nearly been 
stamped out of his body. 

A hundred naked black legs seemed to have 
nothing else to do than pound our hero into pulp. 

Unable to rise, George lay still, shielding him- 
self as well as he could from the pounding, and 

169 


17 © LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

hoping that the Indians might forget all about 
him. 

The war-whoops, the yells, the attacks and re- 
treats showed that a battle was going on. 

But with whom ? Had the savages he had seen 
coming round the headland been of a different 
tribe from those who had descended from the 
lookout ? 

Were they enemies, and this their battleground ? 

Surely it must be. Tahi alone could not hold 
these demons at bay. 

Each side of him he beheld nothing but moving 
black legs, much bedaubed with paint. Neverthe- 
less, he resolved to try to crawl out of the melee, 
hoping that the savages were far too occupied to 
notice him. 

By waiting patiently for an opportunity, not to 
come in contact with any of the painted legs, he 
succeeded in advancing a few feet, when a war- 
whoop, ringing and triumphant, burst from the 
other tribe. 

There was a halt ; then a quick retreat. Who- 
ever the other tribe were, they appeared to be get- 
ting the victory. 


AMONG THE ENEMY. 


iU 

Would they be friends or foes? That the 
future must decide. 

He must take the risk; and, dropping flat, 
hoped to be passed over. 

As ill-luck would have it, however, at that very 
moment a savage, leaping back, tripped against 
our hero’s body and fell. 

The next instant he was on his feet, his clutch 
on George’s arm. 

His eyes glared into the prisoner’s; his white 
teeth gleamed between his full lips. 

Rising rapidly, he retreated with the rest, 
dragging our hero after him, but the lad displayed 
no fear. 

Boldly, steadily he had met his captor’s glance, 
and now he walked whither he was led. Had 
there been any chance of escape by resistance he 
would have resisted. But he saw such an attempt 
would be absurd. It would have brought instant 
death; and he felt, until Cora was safe, his life 
was not his own. 

Being now on a level with the rest, our hero 
saw that his worst fears were correct. 

The savages were their old visitors, the Ninans. 


172 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


They were armed with spears, clubs, and bows, 
which they used with skill and effect. 

The elders alone wore beards, which were 
plaited and adorned with pieces of oyster shells. 

At the foot of the lookout they halted, with the 
exception of the one who had possession of our 
hero. 

He was alive, and they regarded him as a prize. 

Uttering some words to another savage, the 
latter joined him, and, taking the captive’s other 
arm, they hurried him to the top. 

They jabbered excitedly, and our hero knew he 
was the subject of their talk, as they glared with 
their hideous painted faces down at him. 

He, however, showed no fear, though he could 
not help asking himself, with some anxiety, what 
could be their purpose. 

Would they kill him at once? Would it be by 
a sudden blow, or would they reserve him for 
torture ? 

He was not kept long in suspense. 

Reaching the crest of the hill, the Indians, 
throwing him down, proceeded to fasten his hands 
and feet securely. 


AMONG THE ENEMY. 


173 


Then one raised his spear. 

Our hero thought it was to fling it at him. In- 
stead, the Ninan passed it between his arms, fixing 
it firmly in the earth, so that did anything occur 
to call off their attention their prisoner could not 
roll away. 

Each then took his seat, one on either side as 
guard, and watched the scene below. 

Our hero, by no means loath, did the same. 
To his surprise, the whole place seemed a moving 
mass of Indians. 

That they were two rival tribes he could no 
longer doubt. 

Armed with their deadly spears, they fiercely 
attacked each other, yelling and howling like 
fiends, while others made the assault with their 
formidable clubs. 

In vain George strained his eyes beyond to see 
if he could discover any trace of Tahi and his two 
companions. 

He knew he could not see Cora. He had seen 
her disappear into the bush, and was aware she 
would not leave it of her own will while the tur- 
moil was taking place. 


174 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


Of the others he could behold nothing, and in 
despair he turned his gaze back upon the com- 
batants. 

Those who were attacking the Ninans, he per- 
ceived, were tattooed nearly all over their bodies, 
and wore their long hair tied up in a knot at the 
top of their heads. 

This enabled him to distinguish the two; but 
for a long time the battle raged without his being 
able to tell which was getting the better of it. 

Sometimes it appeared one, sometimes the 
other. 

He could easily tell which from the behavior of 
his captors. 

They howled and yelled defiance when their 
party seemed worsted, and shouted, gesticulated, 
and capered when the reverse. 

George, however, saw plainly it was far less 
often the latter. 

Indeed, though the tribes appeared equally 
matched, that the Ninans must, if the conflict con- 
tinued, be ultimately defeated was certain. 

Then what would be his fate ? 

Certainly his life hung in the balance. 


AMONG THE ENEMY. 


*75 


It was near sunset before he beheld a decided 
alteration in the combatants’ tactics. 

It appeared to him that they had come to some 
sort of parley. 

The fighting ceased, and in a compact mass, 
dragging away as many as they could of their 
slain, the Ninans retreated up the hill, the others 
making no attempt to follow. 

It was evident a truce had been proclaimed, 
probably, though, only for the night. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 


PREPARING FOR THE CANNIBALS* FEAST. 

Directly the Ninans began to move, George’s 
guards sprang up, jerked out the spear, and pull- 
ing their prisoner to his feet, hurried him along in 
advance. 

For the first time our hero felt real alarm at the 
idea that they were going to the canoes. 

He would rather have died than leave the island 
where were his friends. 

“ It’s useless to resist, I know, against such 
numbers,” he reflected; “ but I will attempt it. I 
cannot, will not, while alive, desert Cora and the 
rest. There may be a chance of learning their 
fate if I remain here; never, if I am taken away.” 

But the savages did not leave the island, but 
went to the tableland. 

Then the hostile tribe came up with a prisoner. 
It was Ned Foley. 

176 


PREPARING FOR THE CANNIBALS' FEAST. i77 

The bully was scared to death and heartily glad 
to see he was not alone in his misery. 

The savages prodded Ned with their spears and 
made him howl again and again. 

George became indignant at this. 

He had learned from Tahi many native words, 
and, in hope the Ninans would understand him, 
he shouted in Tahi’s language : 

“ Cowards ! ” 

The syllables electrified the savages. They 
wheeled round, facing the youth with surprise. 

He met the glance of their dark, fierce eyes with 
one as fearless. 

Not a muscle quivered, not an eyelash trembled. 
His young lip was curled in scorn. 

In a few moments they talked, then one ad- 
dressed him. 

“ English,” he answered, in their tongue, for, 
though he did not know it, our language with 
slight alteration is universally spoken throughout 
Polynesia. 

Raising his spear, a savage jabbed him in the 
side. The attack was severe enough to make the 
flesh wince, but our hero set his teeth firm, and let 


178 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

not a muscle move, whereupon another advanc- 
ing made a like experiment, with a similar 
result. 

He saw they were testing his courage, and re- 
solved, as long as his strength would permit, they 
should elicit no amusement out of him. 

After about five minutes’ prodding he laughed 
scornfully, repeating : 

“ Cowards ! English brave, generous ! ” 

“ You warrior ? ” questioned an Indian. 

“ Yes, American warrior.” 

Whereupon the savages set up a yell of deri- 
sion, and pointed to Ned’s pallid face. 

“You warrior!” they said; “him coward! 
Ugh ! ” and they shrugged their shoulders. 
“ Him girl; good for laugh.” 

“ You see,” said George, in English, to his 
companion, “ by seeking these savages’ mercy, 
you only obtain their contempt. Be a man, Ned, 
and we may weather through it yet.” 

“ It’s all very well,” grumbled Foley, “ but I 
don’t like being made a pincushion of. Oh ! what 
are they going to do now? ” 

The savages again had been in converse, but 


PREPARING FOR THE CANNIBALS' FEAST. 179 


now four, separating from the rest, advanced to- 
ward the prisoners. 

Two approached each and began critically 
pinching them. In a minute Ned began to roar 
like a bull. 

“ Oh, they want to know if we’re fit for cook- 
ing. I know they do. Oh, the wretches ! 
Oh — h — h ! ” 

Whether it was as he said or not, they seemed 
far more satisfied with our hero’s condition than 
lanky Ned’s, and after their inspection retired, 
leaving the lads alone. 

“ Oh, Blake, whatever do you think they are 
going to do with us? ” groaned Ned. 

“ I really can’t tell, Ned, but I very much fear 
that they’ll roast and eat us! ” 

“ Oh, dear! Oh, dear! ” moaned Ned, with a 
howl ; “ what will you do ? ” 

“ Try to bear it like a man,” was the brave re- 
sponse. 

“ It’s all very well to talk, but it isn’t easy to 
perform,” groaned Ned. “ I’m glad I’m so thin. 
Perhaps they won’t kill me first. They’ll wait till 
I’m fatter.” 


180 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

Our hero made no comment upon his com- 
panion's selfishness, but tried to prepare himself 
for the horrible death he knew threatened him. 

Yet it was difficult, for his mind would wander 
to Cora and the others. 

It occurring to him that Ned might know some- 
thing, he questioned him, but he was too en- 
grossed by his own peril to give very lucid an- 
swers. Yet he knew nothing of the girl nor 
Artie. 

All he was aware of was that, hearing the In- 
dians yell, Tahi had run back toward our hero and 
the others. 

As to Ned, he had dashed down to the sea to 
get the boat and escape. 

Just, however, as he was about to push it 
off, he had seen the canoes dart round the 
headland. 

Believing the cries had come from them, he had 
run blindly up the shore again, right into the midst 
of the Ninans, who, felling him with a club, made 
him their prisoner. 

Here Ned broke off his recital with a cry of 
terror. 


PREPARING FOR THE CANNIBALS’ FEAST. 181 


“Oh, look, Blake, look! The wretches are 
going to eat us ! ” 

And George, raising his eyes, saw that the bon- 
fire the Indians had made was now burning 
fiercely, and that similar preparations for a can- 
nibal feast to that previously witnessed were being 
made. 


CHAPTER XXX. 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE. 

The brains of both George and Ned were in a 
mad whirl. How soon would they fall victims to 
the wretched cannibals ? 

Presently a couple of guards came up, each 
armed with a club. They struck Ned, knocking 
him unconscious. Then they attacked George. 

When our hero came to he could not tell how 
much time had elapsed, but the bonfire was burn- 
ing low, the stars were in the heavens, and the 
savages were lying about, probably full to reple- 
tion. 

His two guards, seated between himself and 
Ned, were silent and seemed also to doze. 

As to Ned, he must, too, have sunk to sleep, for 
surely his insensibility could not last so long. 

George appeared the only one awake in that 
vast solitude. 


182 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE. 183 

His head was heavy and his limbs ached from 
the tightness of the cords. 

Yet he could not slumber, though he felt a few 
moments’ rest would give him nerve better to en- 
dure what suffering the morrow might have in 
store. 

He wondered again and again what had become 
of Cora, Tahi, and Artie. 

Then his thoughts flew over ocean and land 
to his father in far-away Australia. Would he 
ever see his parent again ? 

Slowly the hours crept by. The bright stars, 
which he might never behold again, moved quietly 
across heaven’s vault. Not a sound broke the 
stillness. The boy seemed alone, friendless, in his 
great trouble. 

Suddenly a rustle among the bushes grow- 
ing some yards behind the trees to which he 
and Ned were tied caused him to raise his 
head. 

George looked at his guards. 

They were partly dozing, their spears in their 
belts, their clubs, ready to hand, across their 
knees. 


184 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


It was evident they had not heard the sound, 
and perhaps he, too, had been mistaken. 

Nevertheless, “ hope springs eternal in the hu- 
man breast.” 

Our hero tried to crane his neck round to see 
behind him, but this was impossible. 

He could hear nothing — see nothing now. 

Notwithstanding, a native had emerged from 
the bushes, and crouching, swiftly, cautiously, 
was coming forward, nearer, nearer, without the 
slightest noise. 

The guards, after their horrible feast, never 
moved, and the savage rose erect. 

He swung the native club he carried in the air, 
and there was a whizz as it rushed once, twice, 
through space, and fell swift as lightning, with 
the deadly blow of a sledge-hammer. 

The two guards rolled over without a moan, 
senseless on the grass. 

“ Tahi ! ” gasped our hero, who, in amaze too 
great to be realized, had watched this scene, 
the work of a few seconds, and recognized his 
friend. 

The Indian made him a sign for silence and 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE. 185 

gliding forward in a moment had severed the lad’s 
bonds. 

“Not a second to be lost, Misser George. 
Come ! Ninans not dead,” pointing at the pair on 
the ground; “only stunned. Stay, Tahi make 
sure.” 

Dropping on his knees he caught one of the 
spears, and shortened it to strike. 

“ No, no, Tahi,” and George seized his arms. 
“ Don’t do that. Can’t we gag and secure 
them ? ” 

The Indian caught the idea, and the two sav- 
ages were gagged in a second and lashed back to 
back to the tree. 

“ Now, come quick, Misser George.” 

“What, and leave Ned? No, Tahi, whatever 
the danger, I could not leave him.” 

“ He sleep — we wake him. Him coward, cry 
out. Rouse Ninans. We all lost.” 

“ I can’t help it, Tahi. I couldn’t leave the 
poor fellow. Quick — the knife ! ” 

George had his own with him. 

But before using it he took the precaution to 
stuff his handkerchief into Ned’s mouth. 


1 86 LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 

It was well he did, for Ned’s stupor was that 
created by abject fright. 

No sooner did he feel a hand upon him than he 
began crying out like one half killed. 

“ Oh, mercy, mercy ! ” he cried. “ Oh, to be 
roasted and eaten ! ” 

George muffled his head quickly in his jacket, 
while he whispered authoritatively : 

“ Silence, Ned. We are escaping. If you 
make the slightest sound we shall leave you, and 
you’ll be roasted and eaten indeed.” 

The threat held the other speechless. 

He trembled like a leaf, while Tahi, who had 
taken the knife, quickly severed his bonds, and 
seemed hardly conscious of his freedom. 

“ Come,” said Tahi curtly, “ lost too much time 
already. Come ! ” 

But Ned’s cramped, shaking limbs could not 
bear him. 

He stumbled on, moaning beneath his 
breath. 

The Indian grew impatient, for dawn was not 
two hours off, and when that came all chance of 
escape was hopeless. 


TAHI TO THE RESCUE. 187 

Our hero would not, however, leave his com- 
rade. 

Holding him up, he strove to help him along. 

Suddenly Tahi stooped, caught Ned, flung him 
on his shoulder, and plunged into the bush. 

George managed to keep up with him, for, de- 
spite the burden the Indian carried, he frequently 
lent a kindly, helping hand to the lad. 

“ Where are we going, Tahi? ” whispered our 
hero. 

“ The cavern. Safe there,” was the response. 

They proceeded in silence for some time, and 
then George again spoke : 

“ Where is Artie and — and Cora ? ” 

“ Young misser in cave, waiting,” answered 

Tahi. “ Girl ” He shook his head. “ Tahi 

ask you that, Misser George.” 

“ Oh, Tahi, I do not know. I’ll tell you how it 
was.” 

“ No, no time. Wait.” 

Our hero obeyed, but his mind was full of 
anxiety, for all were safe — but Cora ! 

They were now descending the little valley, and 
soon after they reached the cavern. 


1 88 lost on volcano island. 

Hardly had they entered than Artie started for- 
ward and flung himself joyfully upon George. 

“Oh, George, you are safe, safe!” he cried; 
“ so is Ned. But is he hurt ? Oh, dear George, 
what an awful night it has been ! We should have 
all been murdered but for good, brave Tahi. 
But,” and the lad staggered back, “ where is the 
queen of the island ? Where is Cora ? ” 

Ah! where was she? That was the painful 
question. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 


THE CANOE. 

Ned was now a little more composed. He sat 
all in a heap, trembling yet, but with his wits about 
him. 

In a few words George told what had happened. 
Tahi checked him after he had learned of the girl. 

"Soon be dawn,” he said; "Tahi must act. 
Tahi much to do.” 

" What, Tahi? ” asked our hero, but the native 
would not wait to explain. 

Quitting the cave he plunged into the sea and 
disappeared. 

They might have entertained fears for him, 
had they not known how regardless he was of the 
monster of the waters, the shark. 

" Whatever can he be going to do ? ” said Artie. 

" Be sure, whatever it is, it’s for our benefit,” 
said our hero; " so, tell me, Artie, how you so for- 
tunately escaped.” 


189 


190 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


The boy had not very much to tell. 

He had run off toward the beach at the sight of 
the savages, but had been brought to a halt 
by the appearance of the other Indians on the 
water. 

A moment he knew not what to do. Then, 
unable to go back or forward, giving up all hope 
of reaching Tahi, he had diverged into the bush, 
which was not far off. 

The fight between the hostile tribes was his 
safeguard. 

He ran as far as he could, then cowered down 
among the vegetation. 

He saw nothing of the battle, but he heard the 
fierce yells, and waited for hours, trembling for 
the result. 

Suddenly he had been startled by someone 
coming through the ferns, and had half sprung up 
to retreat, when, to his delight, he had recognized 
Tahi. 

The Indian had brought him to the cave, assur- 
ing him he would be safe, while he, Tahi, went to 
reconnoiter, to see what had become of his com- 
panions. 


THE CANOE. 


191 


In return our hero told his adventures. He 
ended by saying, while his voice shook : 

“ There is yet another missing. Dear, dear 
Carlo.” 

At this juncture the sound of paddles fell on 
their ears, and creeping nearer the entrance they 
looked forth. 

“ Merciful Heavens ! ” groaned Ned, dropping 
back, “ here are the savages again.” 

Through the night, not yet lightened by ap- 
proaching dawn, the lads’ alarmed gaze dimly be- 
held a canoe, in which an Indian sat, swiftly mak- 
ing for the very beach where they were. 

No sooner did Ned’s eyes fully assure him that 
the occupant of the canoe was an Indian than 
strength came back into his legs. Remembering 
all the horrors he had recently undergone, he at 
once took to his heels and fled through the 
cave. 

Artie, catching the scare, followed; and the 
chances are that both, in their terror, might have 
plunged headlong into some chasm had not our 
hero been in time to catch each by the arm, while 
he cried : 


* 9 2 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND . 

“ Come back ! Don’t be so stupid. It’s Tahi.” 

“ Are you sure?” said Ned. “ Those black 
fiends are so abominably alike.” 

“ They may be black, but they must be very 
much so, indeed, to prevent my knowing a friend 
from a foe. Come, Artie.” 

Turning back, he walked from the cave onto 
the sand, Artie following, Ned hanging in the 
rear. 

Tahi had now run the canoe on shore. 

Springing on the land as the boys came up, he 
said: 

“ Mangaians got boat; we got Ninan’s canoe. 
Nearly yet an hour before day come. Enemy 
have island. We fly in canoe. Before light, far 
away on ocean. Mangaians, Ninans not see; not 
find us. Shall we go ? ” 

“Go? Of course!” cried Ned, reviving 
quickly. “ You’re a brick, Tahi. Don’t let us 
lose a minute. Who’d stop to risk falling into the 
hands of those fiends again ? ” 

Artie was about to follow, when he looked back. 

“ You’re going, George? ” he asked. 

Our hero had stepped back with his arms folded. 


THE CANOE . 


193 


An expression of deep sorrow, of pain, was on his 
features. 

Tahi was watching him. 

“ I going? ” answered George, with a dash of 
bitterness. “ You can all go. I have no right 
to ask you to stay, but I shall remain.” 

“ Remain? Why?” ejaculated Artie, sur- 
prised. 

“ Why ? Can you ask ? Have you forgotten 
Cora? Do you think I would leave the island 
while she, poor girl ! is helpless upon it ? ” 

There was a pause. Ned looked as amiable as 
a thunder-cloud, yet he was sufficiently recovered 
to feel a little ashamed of his past cowardice. 

He left Tahi to bring George to reason, as he 
expected he would. 

Tahi made no sign. 

A struggle was evidently going on within 
Artie's breast, and the good conquered. 

Quitting the canoe, he walked to our hero's side. 

“ You are right, George,” he said. “ I am 
sorry for a moment I was a coward. We will not 
desert dear Cora nor Carlo.” 

George pressed his hand. “ I have no right to 


194 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


keep others in danger/’ he began, when the In- 
dian, drawing the boat higher, broke in quietly : 

“ Misser George says what is true. Tahi 
never meant to leave island without Miss Cora. 
Tahi say only to try. We all stop.” 

Ned, controlling his wrath, got out. 

“ Why did you fetch the canoe, then, if we are 
not to use it? ” he grumbled. 

“I know,” exclaimed Artie; “I can guess. 
The savages, seeing the boat gone, will think you 
two fellows and the rest have escaped in it.” 

Tahi smiled, and nodded. 

“ That my reason,” he remarked; “ but canoe 
useful when enemy gone.” 

Our hero experienced considerable relief on 
finding that it had never really been Tahi’s inten- 
tion to leave the island. 

As they were themselves in comparative safety, 
all anxiety now was to seek news of the missing 
girl. 

In fact, he had mentally resolved that before an 
hour, Ninans or no, he would start, even by him- 
self, and try if he could not procure some intelli- 
gence. 


THE CANOE. 


195 


It was, he felt, cruel and unmanly to sit down 
passively while a weak, helpless girl was perhaps 
alone in peril. 

The native canoes are not very heavy, so the 
Indian, with the boys’ assistance, managed to lift 
and bear it into the cavern. 

They lifted it so that should the savages chance 
to come near their quick eyes might not discover 
the trail. 

They carried it far in, and no sooner was it 
placed down than our hero begged Tahi to call a 
council. 

“Why?” asked the Indian. “What to 
do?” 

“ To find the queen of the island,” answered 
George promptly. “ I cannot remain quiet here. 
I must try to seek her and Carlo.” 

Tahi bent his head thoughtfully. “ You right,” 
he remarked finally, “ but no use at present. Soon 
Indians about everywhere. Ninans seek, find 
you. You caught, you no help young girl. 
Wait.” 

“Wait! Oh, Tahi, it is impossible!” 

“ No. Possible. Wait. Mangaians, Ninans 


196 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


fight again; not look for you. We look around. 
Then find girl. No good yet.” 

Tahi shook his head emphatically. 

George, despite himself, saw the wisdom of this 
advice, though it was difficult to swallow. 

Had he not been convinced by Tahi he shortly 
would have been by other means. 

Scarcely had day dawned than the whoop and 
yell of the savages became plainly discernible in 
the distance. 

It was not long before the savages spread all 
over the island. 

It was evident the prisoners’ escape had been 
discovered. 

Breathlessly the four waited, or rather the three, 
for Tahi bore all excitement with that calm 
stoicism for which many savage tribes are re- 
nowned. 

Sometimes the yells seemed to approach close 
to the little valley, then to go further off. 

Once they perceived two or three canoes full of 
armed Indians dart out and row away for some 
distance. 

They returned, however, giving up the chance 


THE CANOE. 


197 


of overtaking the fugitives if they had all fled by 
sea. 

Until noon the yells and shouts continued. 

Tahi, hearing them last so long, said that the 
Mangaians and Ninans must have come to a truce, 
or were each searching; each hoping to find the 
fugitives. 

Ned sat trembling, and mentally wishing they 
had gone off in the canoe, while Artie, pale and 
anxious, did his best to keep up his courage. 

Tahi sat immovable, our hero thoughtful, his 
mind full of Cora and his dear old Carlo. 

They had withdrawn far enough back not to be 
seen by anyone on the beach, yet they themselves 
could see. 

For some little while, however, the shouts and 
commotion had grown very distant, and the lis- 
teners hoped that the savages, believing they had 
all fled in the canoe, had given up the search. 

Suddenly, about an hour after noon, they were 
heard again, seemingly coming in the direction of 
Cave Bay, as they had named it. 

Nearer — nearer they came, and louder and 
louder grew the yells. 


I9 8 LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 

There was, too, a ring of exultation in them, as 
if the utterers were assured now of success. 

Consternation began to spread over every coun- 
tenance but Tahi’s. 

He gave one of the spears they had taken pos- 
session of to our hero. 

“ We can fight, and we can die,” he said epi- 
grammatically. 

“ Hush ! ” cried Artie, though in a whisper, as 
he sprang up; “ listen — they are here.” 

Yes; there was a quick rush through the bushes 
of the valley. 

Then a rattle on the beach of someone or some- 
thing approaching. 

Then a dark object appeared at the entrance of 
the cave, and, darting in, fell at George’s feet. 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

carlo's REAPPEARANCE — MORE DANGER. 

As the dark object entered the cave all of the 
boys fell back in alarm. 

Artie was the first to recover himself. 

“ Why, it’s Carlo ! ” he shouted with glee. 

It was Carlo, sure enough. 

What his adventures had been through that past 
day and night could never be known to anyone. 

His tongue lolled out, blue from exhaustion, 
while one of his front legs had been so wounded 
or injured that he could not put it to the ground. 

But as he lay with his beautiful head raised and 
his fine tail beating the ground, nothing but de- 
light and joy were in the brown eyes, at again be- 
holding the master he loved. 

Striding forward, Tahi showed that a piece 
of native rope was tied around the animal’s throat, 
to which a jagged end was attached. 

“ Dog been prisoner,” he said; “ Mangaians use 


*99 


200 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


dog to trace master. He break rope — escape. 
But Mangaians close on track. Mangaians soon 
be here.” 

The increasing yells showed too plainly that 
Tahi spoke truth, and his words created a new 
alarm. 

His surmise, no doubt, was true, consequently 
it would not be a chance savage or two who might 
come upon their retreat, but the whole army. 

There was an anxious pause, while instinc- 
tively the boys’ eyes were bent on their native 
friend. 

“ There but one way. Tahi and all risk it,” he 
said. 

“ What is that ? ” asked George. 

“ Retreat into cave.” 

“ But the, chasm ? The darkness ? ” 

“ Wait!” 

Approaching, Tahi looked cautiously forth. 
The yells were nearer, louder, but not close. In 
losing Carlo the savages had for a moment lost 
the track, but Tahi knew well that they would 
soon find it. 

Swiftly he darted into the bush. In a few sec- 


CARLO ' S REAPPEARANCE— MORE DANGER. 201 


onds he reappeared with a stout, dry piece of a 
branch. 

Entering the cave, with the aid of two flint 
stones he succeeded in igniting the wood, which 
flaming up made a torch. 

“ Now,” he said, “ quick ! No time to lose ! ” 

Taking the lead, he penetrated into the cavern, 
the lads close at his heels. 

Reaching the canoe, they saw Tahi had no in- 
tention of leaving it behind. 

Giving the torch to Artie to carry, he bade our 
hero and Ned to help in raising the boat. 

Then as rapidly as they were able they hurried 
on. 

“ But if the chasm is in front I don’t see how 
we are to escape, unless we jump in,” said Ned. 

“ That, indeed, would be out of the frying-pan 
into the fire,” answered our hero; “be sure we 
shan’t have to do that. Tahi knows perfectly well 
what he is about.” 

As they plunged deeper and deeper into the 
cavern, they naturally lost the sound of the sav- 
ages’ cries — a fact which gave courage to Ned and 
Artie. 


202 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


George knew, however, from the unslackened 
pace of the Indian, that he drew no hope from 
this, and that danger was as surely before them as 
ever. 

The murmur of the chasm had long been audi- 
ble, but the roar, so deafening and bewildering to 
the senses, was absent, owing to the tide not being 
fully in. 

Reaching the brink, Tahi put down the canoe 
and waved his torch around. 

By the light they saw that at each side of the 
pit was a small path or ledge, scarcely twelve 
inches wide. 

It was perilous, but their only chance of safety 
was to cross over it. 

Soon they were over, and with them went the 
dog. Then the rope was fastened to the canoe. 

Tahi followed, guiding, and holding it steady; 
and in less than five minutes it was securely landed 
on the other side. 

At any other moment the boys would have 
given a shout of delight, but now their work was 
too serious to admit of it. 

Artie now took up the torch, the others the 


CARLO'S REAPPEARANCE— MORE DANGER. 203 

boat, and they made their way to the opening 
which has been mentioned as fronting that from 
which they had emerged on the opposite side. 

Before they reached it the whole place echoed 
with the triumphant shouts of the savages. 

Artie was the first to scramble out; but he came 
quickly scrambling back again, declaring he could 
hear more enemies whooping not far off. 

“ All stop here,” said Tahi. “ Tahi go and 
see.” 

Springing out, he disappeared for ten minutes, 
which to the boys seemed like an hour. 

“ It is true,” he said, when he returned. 
“ Ninans on the plain. Ninans probably look for 
other opening of cave. All must go, quick. 
Stay — the canoe ! ” 

After a few minutes' work the canoe was pushed 
off and the boys found themselves afloat again. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

A BIG SURPRISE. 

Through the dark, silent night the canoe shot, 
the oars or paddles making but a faint rippling 
sound. 

Artie dozed, lying at the bottom of the boat; 
Ned, half asleep, steered; while our hero and the 
native pulled. 

Stillness reigned over the sea, while in the 
heavens above star after star shone out on the 
fugitives. 

Altering his position so as to row backwards 
that he m;ght face the native, George whispered 
as their faces approached each other : 

“ I wonder, Tahi, if we take up our abode on 
that little island, whether we shall discover the 
cause of the mysterious light? ” 

“ Think pYaps yes, Misser George. Coming 
to island,” added the Indian, looking over his 
shoulder. “ There island is.” 


204 


A BIG SURPRISE. 


205 


His keen eyes had been the first to discern it, as 
it rose out of the water, a small forest of trees, 
with ferns and other tropical plants at their 
base. 

The stars were beginning to silver the waters, 
rendering shadows rich from contrast. 

It was deemed safest to steer for the side of the 
island furthest from the larger one. So, making 
a wide sweep, they shot the canoe cautiously under 
the hanging branches, for the vegetation grew 
down to the water’s edge. 

Tahi had relinquished his oar to Ned, and, 
standing erect at the prow, peered into the trees. 

All was silent, and there was, at present, no 
sign of the gorilla. 

They all needed strength, which could only be 
obtained by repose. And so landing, they drew 
the canoe up among the bushes, so as to be out of 
sight. 

Then, before seeking rest, they resolved to cross 
the island, to be prepared for any peril that might 
threaten. 

This patch of land on the vast ocean was so 
small that the task of examining it was not diffi- 


206 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


cult. For the first few paces the ground was soft 
and the bushes not easy to penetrate. 

Tahi took the lead, his spear ready to hand, 
Carlo, as if he guessed there was danger, keeping 
nearly by his side, sniffing the earth. 

Suddenly a bright light blazed up less than a 
hundred yards in front of them. At the same 
time a strange, hissing sound reached their ears, 
like some steam whistle letting off steam far be- 
neath the earth’s surface. 

Ned was inclined to retreat, but George held 
him fast. Artie uttered a cry of alarm. 

“ Oh, George, what is it ? ” 

“ The strange light,” answered our hero. 
“ And easily explained. This little island con- 
tains one of the chimneys of yonder volcano. See 
how the fire rises and falls.” 

“ Him right,” broke in Tahi. “ But only little 
fire an’ no boiling stones,” he continued, as he ad- 
vanced cautiously. 

The native was right; the chimney, so called, 
was but a small one, and no lava followed the 
outbreak of flames. While the party watched the 
glow the hissing suddenly ceased, and the flames 


A BIG SURPRISE. 


207 


died down as quickly as they had shown them- 
selves. 

Taking care to give the miniature volcano a 
wide berth, the party continued on their way until 
they reached a narrow gully. While they were 
trying to cross this Tahi suddenly raised his spear 
and hurled it forward with terrific force. A yell 
that was almost human followed, and then came a 
thrashing around in the bushes on the opposite 
side of the gully. 

“ What was it, Tahi? ” demanded George, and 
the others asked similar questions. 

“ Gorilla,” answered the native laconically. 
“ Tahi wound him, maybe kill him.” 

It was several minutes before they were able to 
cross the gully, and by that time the sounds in the 
bushes had ceased. Stealing forward as watch- 
fully as a cat, the native made an examination, 
then reappeared, dragging the gorilla behind 
him. The creature was dead, Tahi’s spear 
having pierced his breast and come out of his 
back. 

“ Him no good,” began the native, when 
George let out a scream of horror. 


2o8 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


“ Look ! look ! It is Cora’s necklace with the 
locket!” 

He pointed to the gorilla’s neck, and there true 
enough was the chain and locket all of them knew 
only too well. 

The feelings of the boys can better be imag- 
ined than described. Artie burst into tears, and 
George was scarcely less affected. 

“ The gorilla caught Cora and has eaten her 
up ! ” cried the younger boy. 

“ My gracious ! don’t say that ! ” gasped 
George. “ That would be frightful. Tahi, can 
he speak the truth ? ” 

The native shrugged his shoulders. 

“ Tahi no know much ’bout gorillas,” he said. 
“ No gorilla in Tahi’s land. Maybe Carlo track 
back to gorilla’s home.” 

“ If he' only can ! ” sighed George. 

In haste he unfastened the chain and locket 
from the dead beast’s neck and let Carlo smell of 
it. Then he held the dog’s nose down to the 
gorilla’s feet. “ Follow him back, Carlo!” he 
cried. “ Follow him back.” 

The intelligent canine seemed to understand, 


A BIG SURPRISE . 


209 


and at once set off at such a pace that the party 
kept up to him with difficulty. 

A quarter of the length of the island was cov- 
ered when Carlo came to a sudden halt and began 
to bark furiously at a big tree which stood before 
him. 

“ Is that where he lived, Carlo ? ” began George, 
when a cry from the tree branches interrupted 
him. 

“ George ! Tahi ! Is it really you ? Oh, thank 
Heaven, you have come ! ” 

“Cora!” burst out all of the boys. “What 
are you doing there? Are you safe? ” 

“ Yes, for the present. But a big gorilla ” 

“ The gorilla is dead,” interrupted Artie. 

“ I am so glad ! Then I will come down,” and 
in a moment more Cora descended the tree and 
was shaking hands with all of them, not forget- 
ting Tahi. As for Carlo he came in for a regular 
hug, which made George quite envious. 

Cora’s story was a long one, but all listened to 
it with keen interest. The gorilla had carried her 
off to the island more dead than alive. 

“ I was certain he was going to eat me up,” she 


210 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


said. “ But instead he carried me to a tree and 
tied me fast with some strong vines. He tore my 
clothing, ransacked my pocket, and took the neck- 
lace, as you know. Then he left me, and by hard 
work I managed to free myself and got away from 
him. But he came after me a second time, and I 
climbed up in this tree, and have been here ever 
since, defending myself with a spear I picked up 
on the shore. He seemed to be very much afraid 
of the spear.” 

“ Yes, him been wounded before wid spear,” 
said Tahi. “ Most likely him remember dat.” 

“But what have you done for food?” ques- 
tioned George. 

“ Oh, I have a surprise in store for you. In 
wandering over this island I came upon a little bay 
with a long sloping beach. The beach is full of 
wreckage from the Columbia and the Golden 
Gate, and from that I procured all the food I 
needed. And there is a large rowboat there, too, 
with a sail.” 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 


LEAVING THE ISLAND CONCLUSION. 

“ A boat, with a sail ! ” cried George. “ Let 
us see it at once.” 

Cora was perfectly willing to lead the way, and 
off they went through the bushes and along a 
cliff until the bay the girl castaway had mentioned 
was gained. 

Descending to the wide beach, they soon came 
to a long jolly-boat containing a temporary mast 
and a very good mainsail. 

As the girl had said, the beach was covered with 
wreckage, including several boxes of canned 
goods, casks of ship’s biscuits, two kegs of salt 
pork and another of liquor. There was also a 
water butt, but this, strange to say, was empty. 

“ Never mind; there is a spring handy, and we 
can soon fill the barrel,” said George. 

“ Then you mean to leave this nasty place at 
last?” growled Ned. “ It’s about time.” 


211 


212 


LOST ON VOLCANO LSLAND. 


Utterly worn out, all of the party rested under 
the cliff until the next morning. 

The day proved cloudy and damp, but this did 
not dishearten the boys, but rather made them 
hopeful, since Tahi told them that their enemies 
would not go on the warpath while a storm 
threatened. 

The jolly-boat was run out into the bay and the 
sail was put in proper trim, and then began the 
task of sorting out the provisions and filling the 
water butt. It was nightfall before the boat was 
in readiness for a trip from the island. 

Once during the day the boys had thought to 
visit Volcano Island, but Tahi had held them back. 

“No go,” said the native. “If can get away 
den get away. Maybe can get to Tahi’s home.” 

The day fpllowing dawned clear and bright, 
and after a hasty breakfast all, including the ever- 
faithful Carlo, embarked on the jolly-boat, and 
started to leave the island. 

“ Good-by! ” cried George, swinging his cap in 
the air. “ When next we set foot on land may it 
be in a far more civilized place than this.” 

It was no easy task to ride the breakers beyond 


LEAVING THE ISLAh D— CONCLUSION. *13 


the bay, but by a skillful handling of the sail this 
was accomplished with only a small shipment of 
water, and after this sailing became easy. 

Anxiously they watched for some trace of their 
savage enemies, but none came and by nightfall 
Volcano Island had drifted from their view. 

After this three days passed without anything 
unusual occurring. The boat was well stocked 
with eatables, but not knowing how long they 
might be at sea they used no more food and water 
than was necessary. At this Ned often grumbled, 
but his fault-finding did no good. Yet in other 
ways it must be admitted that Ned was fast be- 
coming a far better boy than he had been. Much 
of his bullying manner was a thing of the past. 

On the fourth day the Spy , as Cora had chris- 
tened the jolly-boat, encountered a severe storm, 
and for several hours all on board felt that they 
would surely go to the bottom. The sail was 
torn away, and in the lurching of the boat about 
half of the provisions fell overboard and the 
water butt turned over and ran itself dry. 

The loss of water proved more serious than the 
loss of food, and the day following found every- 


214 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


body suffering from thirst, and poor Artie almost 
out of his head. Carlo’s tongue hung far out, for 
the dog, knowing no better, had devoured much 
salt pork before George had a chance to take it 
from him. 

“ We’ll die of thirst ! ” moaned Ned. “ Oh, 
what fools we were to leave the island ! ” 

“ You wanted to leave as much as anybody,” re- 
torted George. “ But keep up your courage, we 
may soon strike another island.” 

It was fearfully hot, and poor Cora suffered 
greatly from a headache as well as from thirst. 
When it came time to eat and the biscuits were 
passed around nobody could swallow them because 
of their dryness. 

Nightfall found all hands much discouraged. 
Ned sat in tjie bow and suddenly leaped up with 
a yell. “I’m going! I’m going!” came from 
his lips, and he would have thrown himself into 
the sea had not Tahi and George caught him and 
held him down. He was clearly out of his head, 
and had to be bound fast to the seat, after which 
he relapsed into unconsciousness. 

The night that followed was one that none of 


LEAVING THE ISLAND— CONCLUSION. 215 

the others ever forgot. Nobody slept, and at the 
first streak of dawn they were on the alert, looking 
for some welcome sight of land. 

But none came to view, and again their hearts 
sank. 

“ We can’t stand this much longer,” sobbed 
Artie, who could scarcely move his swollen 
tongue. 

Two hours went by and slowly the sun mounted 
into the heavens. 

Then of a sudden Tahi, who was standing be- 
fore the mast, gave a shout. 

“ A sail ! a ship ! ” he cried. 

“Where away?” queried George, leaping up, 
and Cora and Artie followed. 

The native pointed with his hand, and sure 
enough there was a ship coming almost directly 
toward them. 

What a shout went up! Then the sail was 
trimmed and they bore away eagerly for the 
stranger. 

The newcomer proved to be the bark Mermaid, 
bound from the Hawaiian Islands to Sydney, 
Australia. 


2i6 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


All of the castaways were speedily taken on 
board and given all the water and food they de- 
sired. It was found necessary to place Ned under 
medical care, but in a week the boy was as well 
as ever. 

The captain of the Mermaid listened to their 
tale with interest, and then promised to do all in 
his power for them, and this promise was kept to 
the letter. 

As Tahi was anxious to get home to his wife 
and children, it was decided to transfer him to the 
first ship they met going in the opposite direction, 
and just a week later the native left his friends; 
and that was the last George saw of him for two 
years. 

In due course of time the Mermaid arrived at 
her destination, and George was warmly wel- 
comed by his father, who had supposed that his 
son was dead. 

It came to light that Mr. Winthrop had just 
arrived in Sydney from Pekin, so Cora also re- 
ceived a warm welcome. Nor were Artie, Ned, 
and faithful old Carlo forgotten. Mr. Winthrop 
was rich and Mr. Blake fairly well-to-do, and both 


LEAVING THE ISLAND— CONCLUSION. 217 

gentlemen saw to it that neither the boys nor the 
dog wanted for anything they desired. 

And here I must bring my story to a close, 
feeling, as an old sailor must, that I have already 
been yarn-spinning long enough. 

Several years have passed, and George is now 
in business in Sydney with his father. Both are 
making money, and among those in their employ 
are Artie Battison and Ned Foley. The latter 
is thoroughly reformed and as nice a young man 
as one would wish to meet. It is evident that 
roughing it, even for a short space of time, had 
made a man of him. 

A few months ago George settled down in life 
by taking the beautiful Cora for a wife. They 
have a splendid home in the most fashionable 
quarter of Sydney and another summer residence 
in the country. If you call at either place you 
will be apt to meet a tall, grave-looking colored 
man who attends the door and looks after numer- 
ous other things. This is our old friend Tahi, 
who came on with wife and children to engage in 
the Blake service. 

And out in the yard at the country home you 


2 1 8 


LOST ON VOLCANO ISLAND. 


will meet old Carlo, now older than ever, but still 
young enough to spring up and bark joyfully 
whenever Cora, or George, or any of the others 
put in an appearance. 

“ Good, dear old Carlo,” George is wont to say 
as he pats that noble head. “ He and Tahi were 
our best friends when we were Lost on Volcano 
Island.” 


THE END. 



THE FAMOUS 

HENTY BOOKS 

The Boys' Own Library 

J2mo , Cloth 

G. A. Henty has long held the field as the 
most popular boys’ author. Age after age 
of heroic deeds has been the subject of his 
pen, and the knights of old seem very real in 
his pages. Always wholesome and manly, 
always heroic and of high ideals, his books 
are more than popular wherever the English 
language is spoken. 

Each volume is printed on excellent paper 
from new large-type plates, bound in cloth, 
assorted colors, with an attractive ink and 
gold Stamp. Price 75 Cents. 


A Final Reckoning 

A Tale of Bush Life in Australia 
By England’s Aid 

The Freeing of the Netherlands 
By Right of Conquest 

A Tale of Cortez in Mexic* 
Bravest of the Brave 

A Tale of Peterborough in Spain 
By Pike and Dyke 

The Rise of the Dutch Republic 
By Sheer Pluck 

A Tale of the Ashantee War 
Bonnie Prince Charlie 

A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden 
Captain Bayley’s Heir 
A Tale of the Gold Fields of California 
Cat of Bubastes 

A Story of Ancient Egypt 
Cornet cf Horse 

A Tale of Marlborough’s Wars 
Facing Death 

A Tale of the Coal Mines 
Friends, though Divided 

A Tale of the Civil War in England 
For Name and Fame 

A Tale of Afghan Warfare 
For the Temple 

A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem 
In Freedom’s Cause 

A Story of Wallace and Bruce 
In the Reign of Terror 
The Adventures of a Westminster Boy 
In Times of Peril A Tale of India 
Jack Archer A Tale of the Crimea 
Lion of St. Mark 
A Tale of Venice in the XIV. Century 


Lion of the North 

A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus 
Maori and Settler 

A Tale of the New Zealand War 
Orange and Green 

A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick 
One of the 28th 

A Tale of Waterloo 
Out on the Pampas 

A Tale of South America 
St. George for England 

A Tale of Crecy and Poictiers 
True to the Old Flag 

A Tale of the Revolution 
The Young Colonists 

A Tale of the Zulu and Boer Wars 
The Dragon and the Raven 

A Tale of King Alfred 
The Boy Knight 

A Tale of the Crusades 
Through the Fray 

A Story of the Luddite Riots 
Under Drake’s Flag 

A Tale of the Spanish Main 
With Wolfe in Canada 

The Tale of Winning a Continent 
With Clive in India 

The Beginning of an Empire 
With Lee in Virginia 

A Story of the American Civil War 
Young Carthaginian 

A Story of the Times of Hannibal 
Young Buglers 

A Tale of the Peninsular War 
Young Franc-Tireurs 

A Tale of the Franco-Prussian War 


tt» THE MERSHON COMPANY 

J56 Fifth Avenue, New York Rahway, N J# 




FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES 


By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL 


Volumes Illustrated, Bound in Cloth, with a very Attractive 
Cover, Price #1.25 per Volume, or Set of 
Four in Box for #5.00 


THE YOUNG BANDMASTER; or, Concert Stage and Battlefield 

In this tale Captain Bonehill touches upon a new field. The hero is a 
youth with a passion for music, who, compelled to make his own way i* 
the world, becomes a cornetist in an orchestra and works his way up, 
first to the position of a soloist, and then to that of leader of a brass 
band. He is carried off to sea and falls in with a secret-service cutter 
bound for Cuba, and while in that island joins a military band which 
accompanied our soldiers in the never-to-be-forgotten attack on Santiago. 
A mystery connected with the hero’s inheritance adds to the interest of 
the tale. 


OFF FOR HAWAII; or. The Mystery of a Great Volcano 


Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several boys start 
on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard that there is a treasure 
located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest active volcano in the world, 
and go in search of it. Their numerous adventures will be followed with 
much interest. 


A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY ; or, Afloat in the Philippines 


The story of Dewey’s victory in Manila Bay will never grow old, but here 
we have it told in a new form— not as those in command witnessed the 
contest, but as it appeared to a real, live American youth who was in the 
navy at the time. Many adventures in Manila and in the interior follow, 
giving true-to-lif» scenes from this remote portion of the globe. A book 
that should be in every boy’s library. 


WHEN SANTIAGO FELL ; or, The War Adventures of Two Chums 


Captain Bonehill has never penned a better tale than this stirring story of 
adventures in Cuba. Two boys, an American and his Cuban chum, leave 
New York to join their parents in the interior of Cuba. The war between 
Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago de Cuba, 
but escape by crossing the bay at night. Many adventures between the 
lines follow, and a good pen-picture of General Garcia is given. The 
American lad, with others, is captured and cast into a dungeon in Santiago ; 
and then follows the never-to-be-forgotten campaign in Cuba under 
General Shatter. How the hero finally escapes makes reading no wide- 
awake boy will want to miss. 


PRESS OPINIONS OF CAPTAIN BONEHILL’S BOOKS FOR BOYS 


“ Captain Bonehill’s stories will always be popular with our boys, for the reason 
that they are thoroughly up-to-date and true to life. As a writer of outdoor tales 
he has no rival .” — Bright Days. 

“ The story is by Captain Ralph Bonehill, and that is all that need be said about it, 
for all of our readers know that the captain is one of America’s best story-tellers, so 
far as stories for young people go .” — Young People of America. 

“ We understand that Captain Bonehill will soon be turning from sporting stories 
to tales of the war. This field is one in which he should feel thoroughly at home. 
We are certain that the boys will look eagerly for the Bonehill war tales.” — Weekly 
Messenger. 


(*) 


THE MERSHON COMPANY 


J56 Fifth Avenue, New York 


Rahway, N. J. 


L. T. Meade's 

FAMOUS BOOKS 
FOR GIRLS 

l2mo, Cloth Price $1*25 

& 

There are few more favorite authors 
with American girls than Mrs. L. T. 

Meade, whose copyright works can 
only be had from us. Essentially a 
writer for the home, with the loftiest 
aims and purest sentiments, Mrs. Meade’s books possess the 
merit of utility as well as the means of amusement. They 
are girls’ books — written for girls, and fitted for every home. 

Here will be found no maudlin nonsense as to the affections. 
There are no counts in disguise nor castles in Spain. It is pure 
and wholesome literature of a high order with a lofty ideal. 

The volumes are all copyright, excellently printed with clear, 
open type, uniformly bound in best cloth, with ink and gold stamp. 

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TITLES 




The Children of Wilton Chase 
Bashful Fifteen 
Betty: A Schoolgirl 
Four on an Island 
Girls New and Old 
Out of the Fashion 
The Palace Beautiful 
Polly, a New-Fashioned Girl 
Red Rose and Tiger Lily 
Temptation of Olive Latimer 


A Ring of Rubies 
A Sweet Girl Graduate 
A World of Girls 
Good Luck 

A Girl in Ten Thousand 
A Young Mutineer 
Wild Kitty 

The Children's Pilgrimage 
The Girls of St. Wode's 
Light o' the Morning 


(3) THE MERSHON COMPANY 

>56 Fifth Ave., New York Rahway, N. J. 


Edward S. Ellis' 
popular 

BOYS’ BOOKS 


J2mo, Cloth Price $1.25 

Purely American in scene, plot, 
motives, and characters, the copy- 
right works of Edward S. Ellis 
have been deservedly popular with 
the youth of America. In a com- 
munity where every native-born 
boy can aspire to the highest of- 
fices, such a book as Ellis’ “ From the Throttle to the President’s 
Chair,”' detailing the progress of the sturdy son of the people 
from locomotive engineer to the presidency of a great railroad, 
must always be popular. The youth of the land which boasts 
of a Vanderbilt will ever desire such books, and naturally will 
desire stories of their native land before wandering over 
foreign climes. 

The volumes of this series are all copyright, printed from 
large new type, on good paper, and are handsomely bound 
in cloth, stamped with appropriate designs. 

THE FOLLOWING COMPRISE THE TITLES 
Down the Mississippi 

From the Throttle to the President's Chair 
Up the Tapajos 

Tad; or, “Getting Even" with Him 
Lost in Samoa 

Red Plume Lost in the Wilds 

A Waif of the Mountains 
Land of Wonders 

Through Jungle and Wilderness 
Life of Kit Carson 


(4) THE MERSHON COMPANY 

156 Fifth Ave., New York Rahway, N. J* 



THE ROVER BOYS SERIES 

For Young Americans 

By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD 

& & 

Each Volume Handsomely Illustrated and Bound in Oath 

THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL; or, The Cadets of Putnam 
Hall 

Arthur M. Winfield has written many tales for boys, but he has penned 
nothing better than this story of life and adventure at an American military 
school, introducing as he does all sorts and conditions of boys, as well as 
several girls, and a plot that is bound to hold the reader’s attention from 
start to finish. Anybody who loves an out-and-out boy’s book should read 
this volume. 

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN; or, A Chase for a 
Fortune 

This is a complete story in itself, but forms the second volume of the 
series. During a vacation at the school, a fortune is stolen and carried ofi 
to sea, and Sam, Tom, and Dick lose no time in following up the missing 
treasure. On the ocean they fall in with numerous adventures, as thrilling 
as they are absorbing. 

THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE; or, Stirring Adventures 
in Africa 

The father of the Rover boys had gone to Africa and had not been 
heard of for a long time. At last, unable to stand the suspense, the boys, 
accompanied by some older heads, start on a search for the missing parent. 
The hunt leads them into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where they 
become lost and fall in with many strange and savage natives. How all 
escape makes reading that nobody would care to miss. 

Other volumes of this series in preparation 


Press Notices of Arthur M. Winfield’s Books for Young People 

“He knows how to tell a story that will take possession of the reader 
from the first pa ge.”— Rochester (JV. Y.) Post-Express. 

“His school stories cannot be surpassed. They are true to life, and his 
boys are real, live, flesh-and-blood fellows.”— Bright Days. 

“A new story by Mr. Winfield is always hailed with delight, for the bo5 r s 
know they are going to get just what they are looking for— something 
« bright and wholesome, without being either too sensational or too wishy- 
washy.”— Young People of America. 

<■» THE MERSHON COMPANY 

15 * Fifth Avenue, New York Rahway, N. J. 


SPECIAL CIRCULAR TO EDUCATORS 

“Masterpieces of the World's Literature n 

THE PREMIUM LIBRARY 

Is extensively used ny schools and colleges for supplementary reading. It la 
Issued in attractive 16mo shape., paper covers, printed from clear, readable type, 
on good paper. Many of the volumes are illustrated. They are published at the 
low price of TEN CENTS each, or 12 books for one dollar. Postage paid, 
Special prices quoted to schools for larger quantities. 


1. Abb€ Constantin. Ludovic 

Hal6vy. 

2. JEJsop’s Fables. 

8. Black Beauty. Anna Sewell. 

4. Bracebridge Hall. Irving. 

6 . Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. 
Byron. 

6 . Coming Race. Bulwer. 

7 . Cranford. Mrs. Gaskell. 

8. Crown of Wild Olive. Ruskin. 

9. Discourses of Epictetus. 

10. Dreams. Olive Schreiner. 

11. Dream Life. Ik Marvel. 

12. Drummond’s Addresses. 

13. Emerson’s Earlier Essays. 

14. Ethics of the Dust. Ruskin. 

15. Frankenstein. Mrs. Shelley. 

16. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Mrs. Stowe. 

17. Lady of the Lake. Scott. 

18. Lalla Rookh. Thomas Moore. 

19. Lamb’s Essays of Elia. 

20. Lamb’s Last Essays of Elia. 

21. Lamb’s Tales from Shakes- 

peare, I. 

22. Lamb’s Tales from Shakes- 

peare, II. 

23. Lays of Ancient Rome. 

Macaulay. 

24. Lays of Scottish Cavaliers. 

25. Light of Asia. Sir E. Arnold. 

26. Longfellow’s Poems. 

27. Lowell’s Poems. 

28. Mornings in Florence. Ruskin. 

29. One of the Profession. M. 

White, Jr. 

80. Paul and Virginia. B. St. Pierre. 

81. Pleasures of Life. Sir J. Lub- 

bock. 

82. Poe’s Poems. 

88. Princess. Tennyson. 

84. Queen of the Air. Ruskin. 

85. Rab and His Friends. Dr. J, 

Brown. 

86. Rasselas. Johnson. 

87. Reveries of a Bachelor. Ik 
larvel. 

88. iresentative Men. Emerson. 

89. 



40. Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne. 

41. Sesame and Lilies. Ruskin. 

42. Ships that Pass in the Night. 

Beatrice Harraden. 

43. St. Mark’s Rest. Ruskin. 

44. Thoughts from Marcus Aureliua 

Antoninus. 

45. Tillyloss Scandal. J. M. Barrie. 

46. Twice-Told Tales, I. Haw- 

thorne. 

47. Twice-Told Tales, II. Haw- 

thorne. 

48. In Memoriam. Tennyson. 

49. Vicar of Wakefield. Goldsmith. 

50. Whittier’s Poems. 

51. Autocrat of Breakfast Table. 

Holmes. 

52. Heroes and Hero Worship. 

Carlyle. 

53. Mosses from an Old Manse, 

I. Hawthorne. 

54. Mosses from an Old Manse, 

II. Hawthorne. 

55. Autobiography of Benjamin 

Franklin. 

56. Bong of Hiawatha. Long- 

fellow. 

57. Evangeline, and Poems. Long- 

fellow. 

68. Sketch Book. Irving. 

59. Stickit Minister. S. R. Crockett, 

60. House of the Seven Gables. 

Hawthorne. 

61. Poetical Works of Roht. Brown- 

ing. 

62. Paradise Lost. Milton. 

63. Hamlet. Shakespeare. 

64. Julius Caesar. Shakespeare. 

65. Book of Golden Deeds. Yonge. 

66. Child’s History of England. 

Dickens. 

67. Confessions of an Opium Eater. 

De Quincey. 

68. Ten Nights in a Barroom. 

Arthur. 

69. Treasure Island. Stevenson. 

70. Tanglewood Tales. Haw- 

thorne. 


All 

SERIES, 

FIFTEEN v 

schools for larger quantities. 


be supplied in our famous STANDARD 
assorted colors, with an artistic design, at 
postage paid. Special prices quoted to 


THE MERSHON COMPANY 

156 Fifth Ave*, New York Rahway# N» J. 


1600 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


1 




1 

| 


e 

00 : 

2 46: 

3 i 

>63 

n • 



o o 






'P, A 

QV 


HR* 


xP Ak- li 7 n <L 

^ * to 

A *• -•’ y 

Y * ° - \> v * s • • 

^ ❖, *■ 

* v\ V 

*A 



on 0 


A 


0 



V 

A A .' 

yf> <? ■» < 


A V "V 
V <?> 


-A 

*y %. „ ^ I I 

G v o 'o * * * A 

,CA t *A> *^0 / c°"‘ 

C ♦Wfcb.v O A , 

A o 


A 


^ <&. 


•A’A'A-A'' Jj H 

V A%' *> 

. ' ' ’ V?> 

■?■ V . • *" 



o v 


% '*^‘ A a 

5 ‘ e ' c\ ,0 * » 0 °- \> 



0 / 1 


u J * 

VV 





A«* 

* ** ^ 


. Vv* 

A 1 y A 

. ^ <?* ^ -<h<£ my ^ 

• a * A ^. “>•.*$ JF ^ ^ ° * ,\ 

0 V t .^*^ 3 o ^ .•"• 

rz ' ^ ^ 






A * 

V* ; 



O N 0 


t ^ 

»■ .o° A *.„■ , 

0 ‘ * Y * °* V 

* ^ A 

*vrA* 


.<*> 


<lo A 




DOBBS BROS. 

LIBRARY BINDING 


^ o 0 M 0 

J1 AN 1977 


ST. AUGUSTINE .0 ~r 

A GA 

FLA - > % 

Y * O- *> 



32084 






A~X> 


*■ ^ 


V s • • , 


A 



